Worries remain over rights

Bangladesh presents a dismal picture of human rights as the world observes the United Nations Human Rights Day today, say rights defenders. 

The shrinking space of freedom of speech and attempts by the government to control the mass media are evident, according to them.

Families of the victims of "enforced disappearance" and "crossfire" have been deprived of justice.

"As we observe the day, parents are desperately searching for their offspring. Many families alleged their loved ones had been shot in the legs after being detained by law enforcers," Rights activist Nur Khan told The Daily Star by phone.

He said the state should form a judicial probe commission to find out whereabouts of the victims of "enforced disappearance" and to bring the perpetrators to book.

As these cases have remained unsolved, militants attacked and killed people to curb the rights to free speech, he said, adding the freedom of mass media had been restricted too, in a different way.

In addition to writing to the home ministry, aggrieved families of 19 victims of "enforced disappearance" held human chains and press conferences, seeking government help to trace them.

The victims, most of whom were students, were allegedly picked up between November 28 and December 11 in 2013 from different places in the capital and Narayanganj, said family members.

This year between January and September, as many as 43 people were picked up allegedly by law enforcement agencies in the country, says rights body Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).

The bodies of six were recovered later, four returned to their families and five shown arrested, according to a report based on ASK's own investigation and reports published in several national dailies.

Of the victims, 24 people, including two women, had no political affiliation.

The report also says 148 people were killed in "crossfire" with different law enforcement agencies. Of them "shootouts" by police alone claimed 55 lives, the highest by a single law enforcement agency. 

As many as 146 establishments of the Hindu community, including their homes, temples and business outlets, have been vandalised and 56 people injured, ASK said in the report.

In recent times, attacks were carried out targeting different minority groups.

However, law enforcers and the authorities concerned said the attacks had been intended for destabilising the country.

The state is yet to put in place a legal system to ensure human rights for all, said Rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua.

Referring to a recent incident, he said, "A few months ago, an underage boy of an influential family crashed his vehicle and injured people. Instead of taking action, police escorted him."

Denying occurrences of human rights violation in the country, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the country's situation is far better than many nations.

He, however, admitted that there were a few cases of aberrations. "But we addressed the issues brought to our attention."

Asked about the alleged involvement of law enforcers in "enforced disappearance" and "crossfire", he said law enforcers took people into custody when there were specific allegations against them.

"It is not that they [law enforcers] just pick up people and kill them".