There was 'some progress' in establishing human rights in 2011, but on
the whole, the human rights situation was worrying, Ain o Salish Kendra
(ASK) said on Sunday.
Its executive director Sultana Kamal revealed last year's human rights scenario at a news conference in the city on the first day of the new year.
The former adviser to the caretaker government expressed her concern over the rising trend of extrajudicial killings, mob lynching and secret killings.
According to the legal and human rights organisation, 100 people were killed by law enforcers in 2011, 134 were lynched by mobs, 33 committed suicide due to sexual harassment and 23 were killed protesting against such harassments.
Fifty-six people were killed in political violence and 39 by India's Border Security Force (BSF), it said and added that 30 people were abducted last year.
'Disappearances' or undercover killings emerged as a new crime trend in 2011, according to the organisation.
Sultana questioned government's sincerity over ending extrajudicial killings and torture.
"The state could have responded to the questions by trying those who are conducting such incidents," she said.
About law enforcers' role, she said, "The law enforcing agencies have so far maintained the trend to act as forces of powerful or influential people."
She blamed weak foreign policy for killing of Bangladeshis by BSF. "The government failed to take any effective step that could deter India from the killings," she said.
The ASK executive director said the government lacks eagerness to establish the National Human Rights Commission as an effective organisation.
"The government has appointed 28 employees to the commission, though it needs 68. From this, we have to assume that the government does not have the political will to let them (the commission) do well," she said.
The ASK in its review expressed concern over trial of erstwhile BDR mutineers and non-execution of the Chittagong Hill Tracts treaty.
ASK's concerns included obstruction to political demonstrations, conducting mobile courts, withdrawal of death sentences and cases on political considerations and excesses on 304 journalists.
It said the number of deaths in custody was 116 in 2011, higher than the previous year.
About the International Crimes Tribunal, formed to try the crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War, Sultana said tribunal needs to be strengthened with more skills.
ASK chairperson Dr Hameeda Hossain also attended the briefing at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. Kendra's investigation and information preservation department director Noor Khan presented a report on human rights situation of Bangladesh in 2011.
Its executive director Sultana Kamal revealed last year's human rights scenario at a news conference in the city on the first day of the new year.
The former adviser to the caretaker government expressed her concern over the rising trend of extrajudicial killings, mob lynching and secret killings.
According to the legal and human rights organisation, 100 people were killed by law enforcers in 2011, 134 were lynched by mobs, 33 committed suicide due to sexual harassment and 23 were killed protesting against such harassments.
Fifty-six people were killed in political violence and 39 by India's Border Security Force (BSF), it said and added that 30 people were abducted last year.
'Disappearances' or undercover killings emerged as a new crime trend in 2011, according to the organisation.
Sultana questioned government's sincerity over ending extrajudicial killings and torture.
"The state could have responded to the questions by trying those who are conducting such incidents," she said.
About law enforcers' role, she said, "The law enforcing agencies have so far maintained the trend to act as forces of powerful or influential people."
She blamed weak foreign policy for killing of Bangladeshis by BSF. "The government failed to take any effective step that could deter India from the killings," she said.
The ASK executive director said the government lacks eagerness to establish the National Human Rights Commission as an effective organisation.
"The government has appointed 28 employees to the commission, though it needs 68. From this, we have to assume that the government does not have the political will to let them (the commission) do well," she said.
The ASK in its review expressed concern over trial of erstwhile BDR mutineers and non-execution of the Chittagong Hill Tracts treaty.
ASK's concerns included obstruction to political demonstrations, conducting mobile courts, withdrawal of death sentences and cases on political considerations and excesses on 304 journalists.
It said the number of deaths in custody was 116 in 2011, higher than the previous year.
About the International Crimes Tribunal, formed to try the crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War, Sultana said tribunal needs to be strengthened with more skills.
ASK chairperson Dr Hameeda Hossain also attended the briefing at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. Kendra's investigation and information preservation department director Noor Khan presented a report on human rights situation of Bangladesh in 2011.
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