Democratic space curbed in Bangladesh: EU

- Democracy, political space, opposition curbed
- Newspapers bullied, civil rights curbed
- Rising threat of religious extremism
Bangladesh witnessed a diminishing democratic space and steady deterioration in civil and political rights in 2015, European Union's annual human rights report says.
Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and restrictive action against opposition and human rights activists also increased during this period, the report said.
"Intimidation of journalists and editors also increased, while measures were taken to undermine the economic viability of some prominent newspapers," it said.
"The killings of four 'atheist' bloggers and one publisher in 2015 proved that the country was not immune to the threat of rising religious extremism. The deteriorating situation was underlined by the killings of two foreign citizens."
"On the positive side, some progress was achieved on social and economic rights."
These opinions were given in the annual human rights report titled EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2015 yesterday.