HRW: Bangladesh overlooked charges of grave human rights violations
The HRW report highlighted major incidents of human rights violation in 2021 in the country
Collected
Tribune Desk
Publish : 13 Jan 2022, 11:24 PMUpdate : 13 Jan 2022, 11:47 PM
The government has been accused of disregarding allegations of human rights violations raised by the United Nations, donors, and non-governmental organizations, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its World Report 2022.
The report, published on Thursday, said the authorities in Bangladesh cracked down on activists, journalists, and even children for criticizing the government or its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Bangladesh authorities used the Covid-19 pandemic to send a chilling message that criticism of the ruling Awami League will be punished,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW.
“Yet journalists, medical workers, and activists were highlighting the barriers to health care that many people across Bangladesh who died from the coronavirus had faced,” he added.
The 752-page report mentioned the custodial death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed and arrest of journalist Rozina Islam.
The report also referred to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Bangladesh government and the UN refugee agency UNHCR in a report in October.
On Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char, HRW said the authorities relocated almost 20,000 refugees, violating its commitments to wait for an assessment of the island's habitability, safety, sustainability, and protection needs.
Citing examples of the government's failure to provide security in Rohingya camps, the report referred to some murders in Rohingya camps, including the killing of Rohingya rights activist Mohib Ullah in Kutupalong camp of Cox's Bazar in September.
The report said Rohingya activists remained at risk from militant groups, while security forces had arbitrarily detained refugees in a crackdown against those allegedly responsible for the violence.
The report also highlighted the widespread communal violence in October last year.
HRW: Bangladesh overlooked charges of grave human rights violations
The HRW report highlighted major incidents of human rights violation in 2021 in the country
The government has been accused of disregarding allegations of human rights violations raised by the United Nations, donors, and non-governmental organizations, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its World Report 2022.
The report, published on Thursday, said the authorities in Bangladesh cracked down on activists, journalists, and even children for criticizing the government or its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Bangladesh authorities used the Covid-19 pandemic to send a chilling message that criticism of the ruling Awami League will be punished,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW.
“Yet journalists, medical workers, and activists were highlighting the barriers to health care that many people across Bangladesh who died from the coronavirus had faced,” he added.
The 752-page report mentioned the custodial death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed and arrest of journalist Rozina Islam.
The report also referred to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Bangladesh government and the UN refugee agency UNHCR in a report in October.
On Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char, HRW said the authorities relocated almost 20,000 refugees, violating its commitments to wait for an assessment of the island's habitability, safety, sustainability, and protection needs.
Citing examples of the government's failure to provide security in Rohingya camps, the report referred to some murders in Rohingya camps, including the killing of Rohingya rights activist Mohib Ullah in Kutupalong camp of Cox's Bazar in September.
The report said Rohingya activists remained at risk from militant groups, while security forces had arbitrarily detained refugees in a crackdown against those allegedly responsible for the violence.
The report also highlighted the widespread communal violence in October last year.