Dhaka Bureau: According to the annual human rights report 2023 published by the United States, Bangladesh has not made any significant progress in improving the human rights situation. As of 2022, there have been many incidents of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and torture. There is a culture of government impunity for human rights abusers. Rights and human rights activists in the country are expressing concern about this.
The US State Department said in the report that, in most cases, the government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or members of the security forces involved in those human rights violations. On the contrary, there are numerous reports of widespread impunity, the US said.
Besides, the report also mentions that the citizens of Bangladesh do not have the power to change the government peacefully through free and fair elections.
The report titled ‘2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Bangladesh’ has highlighted various issues, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, independence of the judiciary, obstruction of free expression, and censorship of media in Bangladesh.
It said the United States had credible information on serious human rights violations last year, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, government torture or brutality, arbitrary arrest and detention, inhumane and degrading treatment, and harsh and life-threatening prison conditions.
In addition, they have also received information about the persecution of people in other countries, the report said.
Reacting to the report, Naseeruddin Elan, director of rights organization Adhikar, known for documenting thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, said reports like this raise public awareness, making people more aware of existing problems, which is essential.
In 2022, the Bangladesh government accused Adhikar of spreading misinformation against the state by publishing misleading information. Later, the organization’s license was revoked and a criminal case was filed against the organization’s founder, Naseeruddin, and secretary, Adilur Rahman Khan. They were sentenced to two years of imprisonment in that case.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry did not respond to Voice of America’s calls, text messages, and email requests for comment, the report said.
However, the leaders of the ruling Awami League have commented that the US report on the human rights situation is ‘flawed’.
Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nashim told BBC Bangla that this is a fabricated report and the truth rate here is very low. Evidence will be sought from the US government regarding the allegations made in the report.
Analysts say that the picture of the human rights situation in Bangladesh in the report of the US State Department may have a negative impact on the country in the long run.
