Report Unveils Alarming Human Rights Crisis in Bangladesh Amid Political Turmoil
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Synopsis
A new report from the Human Rights Support Society reveals a devastating human rights situation in Bangladesh, highlighting violence, torture, and political strife. Over 23 lives lost and numerous injuries reported amid rising political unrest and violence against women and children.
Key Takeaways
- Over 23 fatalities reported in March due to political violence.
- 733 individuals injured amid escalating unrest.
- 284 women and girls faced various forms of abuse.
- 502 individuals injured in political clashes.
- 41 journalists
Dhaka, April 10 (NationPress) Last month, more than 23 individuals lost their lives and 733 others were injured in over 97 incidents of political violence throughout Bangladesh, according to a recent report published by the Dhaka-based Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).
Emphasizing the dire state of human rights in this strife-torn country, the HRSS report disclosed that at least 40 cases of "mob violence" occurred nationwide, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuries to 44 others in March.
In the context of escalating violence against women in the South Asian nation, approximately 284 women and girls faced various forms of abuse last month.
Among these, 133 were victims of rape, with 83 being under the age of 18. Additionally, 30 women and girls suffered from gang rapes, and 102 experienced sexual harassment.
Moreover, 20 women fell victim to domestic violence, while 207 children were tortured, with 18 of them losing their lives, as per the report.
In another alarming statistic, seven workers were killed and over 120 were injured in 21 incidents related to protests over unpaid wages and factory closures.
Furthermore, five workers died in workplace accidents last month, and an underage domestic helper died due to torture inflicted by her employer, as highlighted in the report.
The HRSS document also pointed out that extortion, revenge, and the quest for dominance instigated violent political conflicts, primarily between two factions of BNP activists.
These party activists were implicated in 88 clashes, including 64 internal party conflicts. Similarly, members of the National Citizen Party (NCP) engaged in two internal clashes, resulting in 10 injuries.
The increasing political violence in Bangladesh has left 502 others injured in March alone. Additionally, 17 individuals were killed in 64 conflicts between rival BNP factions last month, as mentioned in the report.
The report further revealed that in similar violent encounters among various political entities, one person was killed and 81 others were injured in 10 clashes between BNP and Jamaat activists, while two men were killed and 31 more were injured in three clashes involving BNP and the newly-formed NCP.
Additionally, 41 journalists experienced harassment and violence last month in at least 29 incidents, with 23 of them sustaining injuries. A female journalist was also gang-raped while collecting information in Dhaka.
Simultaneously, violence against minority communities has surged since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took power last August. The report indicated that in March, there were three attacks on minority communities, resulting in two injuries.
Many of these attacks on minorities often go unreported due to threats, as noted in the report.
Furthermore, police apprehended at least 1,665 individuals, including 1,644 leaders and activists from former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party, as detailed in the report.
