FORWARDED APEEAL:BANGLADESH: Arson attack on Jumma minority community in Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts

Dear Friends,
Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) is forwarding the urgent appeal from Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), Netherlands regarding Arson attack on Jumma minority community in Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts.

STATEMENT: BIHR gravely concerns about the massive communal attack on Jumma villages by Bengali settlers.

On 17 February 2011, following a death, the Bengali settlers from Gulshakhali settler area of Gulshakhali union under Longadu upazila in Rangamati district in collaboration with Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) (formerly BDR) made a massive communal attack on Jumma villages of Gulshakhali and Rangi Para areas. It is learnt that at least 23 houses of Jumma villagers including one BRAC school were reportedly burnt to ashes in the attack while two Jumma students were seriously injured in another attack made at Tintilya launchghat in Longadu at noon. 

STATEMENT:BIHR gravely concerns about arson attacks in CHT

সুত্র: বিআইএইচআর/এস/০২/০২/১১                                                   তারিখ : ১৮ ফেব্রুয়ারী ২০১১

বিবৃতি: পার্বত্য চট্রগ্রামে পাহাড়ি-বাঙালি সহিংসতায় বিআইএইচআর তীব্র নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছে।

বাংগালী সেটলার এর মৃত্যুকে কেন্দ্র করে আজ রাঙ্গামাটি জেলার লংগদু উপজেলাধীন গুলসাখালী ইউনিয়নের গুলশাখালী ও রাঙ্গীপাড়া এলাকায় নিরাপত্তা বাহিনীর প্রত্যক্ষ সহযোগিতায় সেটেলার বাঙালি কর্তৃক জুম্মদের গ্রামে সাম্প্রদায়িক হামলা ও ঘরবাড়ীতে অগ্নিসংযোগের ঘটনায় বাংলাদেশ ইন্সস্টিটিউট অব হিউম্যান রাইটস ( বিআইএইচআর ) তীব্র নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছে।

FACT FINDING REPORT:Human rights lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam along with his two comrades physically attacked during an investigation: Looted their all belongings

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights  is deeply concerned about the recent incident of physical assault and threats of Mr. Shahanur Islam, BIHR’s Executive Director and lawyer in Bangladesh.

During an investigation on the 9^th of January, 2011 Mr. Shahanur Islam and his two fact-finding officers were physically attacked, threatened and looted all their valuable belongings in Thakurgaon district.This incident is unfortunately one of many that has taken place over the past few years, where Mr. Islam has been exposed to threats and assault as a result of his work to protect minorities in the country. Human rights defenders are frequently subjected to harassment from authorities in Bangladesh. The incident must be investigated and appropriate sanctions be meted to the police authority in question. BIHR urges for the immediate intervention to ensure the protection of human rights defenders and lawyers in their daily work in Bangladesh.

BIHR & HRDP celebrates the International Human Rights Day in Khulna

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Human Rights development Project-Khulna (HRDP) supported by Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD), Netherlands celebrates the International Human Rights Day 2010 in Khulna, the southern region of Bangladesh. As the part of the celebration of this day it has organized a Human Chain followed by the Rally, on the theme of “Speak up: Stop Discrimination” to raise even more awareness about rights and opportunity for the women & girl to show support to those women & girl who are often victimized in violence in Bangladeshi society.

The Human Chain and Rally took place in front of the Cemetery Road, Khulna around at 9.30 am, the organization and more than four hundred people of different ethnic, religious, race, profession, sex, institution, age attend the event. Among them, more than 150 women victim of torture and organized violence from five different victim association namely Sonali Victim Association, Progoti Victim Association, Sheikhpara Victim Association, Diyara Victim Association & Banargati Victim Association who were rehabilitated by Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) and acting as a human rights defender in local level were attend the event.