In 2022, 2249 cases were registered under the Digital Security ACT (DSA) in the country.
The information was revealed in the “Bangladesh Human Rights-Situation 2022”
monitoring report of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) on Saturday.
ASK Director (Program) Nina Goswami and Senior Director Abu Ahmed Faizul Kabir presented the human rights report at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in Dhaka.
They alleged that the Digital Security Act continued to be misused in Bangladesh.
The report said the country underwent a very unstable human rights situation throughout the year.
According to the data, a total of 479 incidents of political conflict and violence have occurred in a year during local elections at various stages.
Four people were killed in gunfights with RAB and other law enforcement agencies. Fifteen people died in law enforcement custody.
At least 936 women were raped across the country while 479 women were victims of domestic violence.
Apart from this, the situation of human rights including minority rights, torture, harassment and sexual harassment, family violence and dowry, child rights and labor rights have been highlighted in the report.
ASK Executive Director Nur Khan said: "Country's human rights organizations are facing a difficult time. A human rights organization has been shut down. We are also publishing information considering various issues. Human rights seem to be better numerically this year than last year. But in real terms, human rights are in
dire straits.”
Ain O Salish Kendra also suspected a rise in militancy in the country if the major political parties fail to reach understanding and cannot stop political bickering.
"While political major parties squabbled over different issues over the whole year, different militant parties attempted to rise, there were attempts by religion-based parties to rise," Nur Khan added.
The report also said since the announcement of the 10th parliamentary election schedule on November 25, over 100 people died across the country during the opposition-called blockades.
Political clashes took place in around 50 districts but Satkhira was identified as the deadliest one.
Despite some positive steps taken by the government to establish economic, social and cultural rights, political violence throughout the year and deteriorated law and order situation created panic and insecurity among people, the ASK said in its summary report.
The report also said commodities have increased by 30% to 100% in some cases over the past year. However, no one's income has increased except for certain groups.