US State Department report on Bangladesh
Govt continues to restrict or deny many fundamental rights
A 1997 human rights report by the US State Department has chided Bangladesh for its alleged violations of fundamental rights, but praised the country's judiciary for a 'high degree' of independence.
The report made available to reporters yesterday mentioned political violence, intimidation, custodial deaths and frequent abuses like torture and rape.
"The government continues to restrict or deny many fundamental rights. Police committed extrajudicial killings, and some people died in police custody under suspicious circumstances," the report alleged.
US Embassy spokesman John Kincannon, presenting the report at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, said it had been prepared on the basis of newspaper reports, interviews with hundreds of people, including human rights activists, journalists and intellectuals.
The report may seem harsh but comparing it with those on other nations, it would not seem that harsh, he said, noting that in presenting this year's report to Congress, Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and Assistant Secretary for Human Rights John Shattuck singled out Bangladesh's efforts to combat child labour as a "notable and praiseworthy human rights endeavour."Their comments came in the midst of critical comments on aspects of the human rights performance of some other countries, Kincannon added in his opening remarks before presenting the report to reporters.
"We hope to share our views with you on the human rights situation in Bangladesh, praising it where Bangladesh has made accomplishments, and noting our views where Bangladesh has sometimes not lived up to the commitments it undertook in signing the universal declaration (on human rights)," Kincannon said.
He said the US congressional requirements make it mandatory that the Secretary of State would transmit a full report on the status of internationally recognised human rights for all countries which received US foreign assistance. The requirements were updated, formally requiring that US foreign and trade policy take into account human rights and worker rights performances of the countries.
The report alleged that Bangladesh police "routinely use torture and other forms of abuse in interrogating suspects. The government rarely convicts and punishes those responsible for torture or unlawful deaths. Prison conditions are poor." It cited newspaper reports on 23 custodial deaths.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government did not repeal the Special Powers Act (SPA), which allows for arbitrary arrests and preventive detention; it used the SPA to harass political opponents and other citizens by detaining them without formal charge," it said.
"A large case backlog slows the judicial process, and lengthy pretrial detention is a problem. The government sometimes infringes on citizen's privacy rights. The government places some limitations on freedom of assembly," the report added.
"The higher levels of judiciary display a significant degree of independence, as mandated by the constitution. The judiciary often rules against the criminal, civil, and even politically controversial cases. Lower level courts reportedly are more susceptible to political pressure," it pointed out.
On other issues, the report noted that "Women, minorities, the disabled, religious minorities, and indigenous people face societal discrimination. Violence against women and trafficking of women and children for prostitution remain serious problems. The government continues to limit worker rights, and child labour is a widespread and serious problem. Vigilante justice resulted in numerous killings."On the political situation, the report noted that "violence, often resulting in killings, is a pervasive element in Bangladesh politics, demonstrators from all parties, and even within parties, often clash with police and each other during rallies and demonstrations. The Awami League and opposition parties used armed violence and intimidation to disrupt their opponents' gatherings and rallies. Opposition parties also used armed violence to enforce general strikes. The violence perpetrated by both sides resulted in more than 18 deaths and hundreds of injuries." The report also focused on violence in campuses. "Campus violence between student political factions has little to do with physical control of dormitories and student concessions by non-student party activists. The result is that, on average, it takes 6 years or more to earn a 4-year degree," it noted.
On freedom of speech and the press, the report cited that "since taking office the Awami League has issued press guidance restricting coverage of a very limited number of stories." It was critical of state control on Radio, TV and other media and control on government advertisements. The report also mentioned "attacks on journalists and efforts to intimidate them by government officials, political party activists, and others, occasionally occur."
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