The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC) has condemned the “violent attack” on human rights defender Hana Shams Ahmed allegedly by the Bangalee Somo Odhikar Andolon (BSOA) group.
The organisation also was alarmed by the “failure of police to provide protection despite known, repeated threats,” stated report of World Organisation Against Torture.
In a message, it stated that the coalition noted with concern that this violent attack was part of a trend of increasing attacks on WHRDs due to the failure of authorities to take effective legal actions to protect human rights activists.
“CHTC members have been repeatedly targeted with intimidation and violence for carrying out their human rights work. Last month, committee members of the CHTC were also attacked.”
On August 25, Hana Shams Ahmed, a vocal advocate for women’s human rights and Coordinator of the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC), came under attack on her way back to hotel from Shailopropat Tourist Spot.
The coalition has described: “At around 6:30pm when Hana along with two people were returning to their hotel in a shared taxi, 8-10 people, led by BSOA leader HM Samrat, seized the taxi, pulled out two other passengers and physically assaulted Hana and her friend, striking their faces and backs.”
“According to Hana, the Detective Branch police who were ordered to provide her security were accompanying her all day; however, they disappeared during the time of the violent attack. The attackers stopped and left the two women after the group leader saw a local motorcyclist who recognised them.”
The CHTC recently published a report on violence against indigenous women and girls in Chittagong Hill Tracts that found that impunity has been the single most important factor contributing to increased incidents of sexual and gender based violence in the CHT.