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BHRC Human Rights Report January to June 2015
Official killing 1338 and
total killing 2898

Human Rights Report:

The documentation section of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC) furnished this human rights survey report on the basis of daily newspapers and information received from its district, sub-district and municipal branches. As per survey it appears that official killing 1338 and total killing 2898 peoples were killed in January to June, 2015 in all over the country. It proves that the law and order situation is not satisfactory. Bangladesh Human Rights Commissions extremely anxious about this situation. In the month of January to June, 2015 average over 16 people were killed in each day.
The Law enforcing agencies and related Govt. departments should be more responsible so that percentage of killing may be brought down to zero level. To institutionalize the democracy and to build human rights based society the rule of law and order must be established everywhere. Through enforcing rule of law only such violation against human rights can be minimized.
It appears from documentation division of BHRC:
Total official 1338 killed in January to June, 2015
Killing for dowry 47, killing by family violence 257, Killed due to social discrepancy 244, Political killing 185, Killed by Law enforcing authority 55, Killed due to BSF 26, Killed due to doctor negligence 47, Assassination 69, Mysterious death 350, Killed after rape 28, Journalist kill 02, Abduction kill 28.
Killed by several accidents:
Killed by road accident 1344, Suicide 216
Besides victims of torture:
Rape 102, Sexual Harassment 18, Torture for Dowry 17, Acid throwing 09

 

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Dawn of a new era
 

Human Rights Report:
Bangladesh and India on 8 June 2015 opened a new chapter of hopes in their relations, fraught with dubious politics, myopic diplomacy and tardy bureaucracy over the decades.
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was leaving Delhi for Dhaka in the morning, he twitted a message, saying this visit would strengthen the bond between the two nations and benefit people of the two countries as well as of the region.
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina didn't hesitate to reciprocate. She broke the protocol to welcome her counterpart at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Hasina's gesture was not lost on Modi, who responded by twitting: "Thank you PM Sheikh Hasina for the warm welcome."
Modi chirped again: "Hello Bangladesh. I bring with me the affection & goodwill of the people of India."
Thus the morning began yesterday, setting up the stage for signing 22 deals to boost economic growth, connectivity and security cooperation.
Top leaders of the two countries translated their goodwill in actions by signing a host of treaties and agreements to pave the way for regional connectivity, economic development and increasing people to people contact.
"Connectivity by road, rail, rivers, sea, transmission lines, petroleum pipelines and digital links will increase. Today, we have unveiled some of the pathways to this future," Modi said at a joint press briefing after the signing of the deals.
"We launched two bus services that will connect our citizens more easily and our two nations more closely," he said in a statement.
At the briefing, Hasina said, "We understand each other's concerns and priorities. Prime Minister Modi and I agree that a greater connectivity is vital for the development of the two countries and the region."
She mentioned that connectivity across the region would reduce inequality and maximise welfare gains.
With the ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement, the official procedure was completed for swapping territories and people between the two countries around 41 years after the 1974 Indira Gandhi-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman historic pact.
In his speech, Modi also addressed Bangladesh's longstanding concern over sharing of the Teesta water.
At the initial stage of his plan for Dhaka visit, it was expected that Teesta water-sharing deal would be inked during the visit. But a couple of days before his visit, the Indian side announced that the deal would not be signed this time.
Unwillingness of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stood as an obstacle to signing the deal. This showed there was no lack of sincerity on Modi's part.
Yesterday, he assured Dhaka of the water-sharing deal. "I am confident that with the support of state governments In India, we can reach a fair solution on Teesta and Feni Rivers."
He clearly stated the importance of resolving the problem. "Our rivers should nurture our relationship, not become a source of discord. Water sharing is, above all, a human issue. It affects life and livelihood on both sides of the border."
As the Indian leader spoke for shared prosperity of the neighbours, he announced quick implementation of the line credit of $800 million and full disbursement of $200 million in grants as "a tribute to our cooperation".
Modi announced extending another line of credit of $2 billion for infrastructure and other development activities in Bangladesh.
He also touched upon the issue of Bangladesh's trade deficit of $5.5 billion with India, and assured Hasina that he would do everything to bridge the deficit.
Modi's words "the future I dream for India is the future I wish for Bangladesh" also reflected the reality how India needs a strong and developed Bangladesh for its own interests because of Bangladesh's geographical position.
Earlier, the two sides approved 22 deals, giving a clear indication that they want to strengthen bilateral cooperation and integrate economic activities through rail, road and waterways connectivity.
 

Democracy 'absent' in Bangladesh

Human Rights Report:

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi that 'democracy is absent in Bangladesh' and stressed the need to restore multi-party democracy to usher in sustainable development in the country and the Saarc region. The BNP delegation, led by Khaleda, discussed different socio-economic and political issues during the meeting with Modi at Hotel Sonargaon. After the meeting, Khaleda told foreign journalists that it was 'fruitful'. The motorcade of the former premier reached Hotel Sonargaon at 3:45pm, shortly after Raushan Ershad, leader of the opposition, left the hotel. BNP standing committee members Tariqul Islam, Nazrul Islam and Abdul Moin Khan, besides BNP chairperson's advisers Reaz Rahman and Sabihuddin, were present during the 45-minute-long meeting that began at 3:50pm. Khaleda presented the Indian prime minister a dhoti and a saree for his mother. Meanwhile, briefing reporters, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moin Khan said they have put importance on restoration of multiparty democracy, terming it the most important factor for overall development of the country.
"It is important to note that democracy is absent in Bangladesh. Not only in Bangladesh, it may lead to instability in the region," he added. The BNP leader said, "Since we live in a global village, it is not possible for anyone to live in peace assuming that nobody would create problems." He added that in the absence of democracy, the government's repression on thousands of opposition leaders and activists, including party acting secretary general Mirza Alamgir Kabir, also came up in the discussion.
"We held discussions over the current situation of the country. Democracy is absent in Bangladesh at present and there is no rule of law in the country as well. All institutions work as per the government's wish, and thousands of opposition leaders and activists from the top to grassroots level have been facing repression and harassment," he said. "We also told the Indian prime minister that people want to elect their representatives through a fair election and they want to get back their voting rights," he added. Moin Khan said they discussed a host of bilateral issues, including development programme for youth, women, child and economic situation. "We have said real development can only be ensured by guaranteeing freedom of expression and accountability," he added. When asked about Modi's reply, Moin Khan said, "It is their part to disclose what Modi said during the meeting." Sources said that Khaleda had handed over her party's policy papers to Modi, detailing its stand on democracy and the overall situation in the country. Indian foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Indian high commissioner Pankaj Sharan were also present at the meeting.

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US welcomes Indo-Bangla deals
 

Human Rights Report:

The US deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia has welcomed the agreements signed between Bangladesh and India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka.
"We look very positively of all agreements signed between India and Bangladesh," Eileen O'Connor said to a question at a media engagement with a select group of diplomatic correspondents in Dhaka on 8 June.
This was the first comment from a US official after Modi ended his whirlwind two-day trip the day before.
Trade and connectivity dominated a series of deals signed between the nations, while the process was kick-started to settle 41-year-old land boundary issue.
The US keenly observed the visit since it has deep engagements both with India and Bangladesh as part of its foreign policy shift towards Asia.
"We share the enthusiasm with Bangladesh for greater cooperation in trade and commerce and greater exchanges of people and ideas," the deputy assistant secretary said.
O'Connor arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a three-day visit ahead of a regional conference on counter-terrorism going to be held in Astana on June 29-30.
How government and civil society can work together for countering violent extremism is her focus during the visit.
She is here after a White House summit on violent extremism where Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali represented Bangladesh.
The US official appreciated Bangladesh's position of zero tolerance for any form of violent extremism.
O'Connor will also speak at a roundtable on "sexual harassment, gender-based violence and the role of media" on Tuesday.
But journalists asked her about Modi's visit since she was a deputy assistant secretary for this region.
She appreciated the connectivity deals and said, "We have been promoting a much more integrated region throughout South Asia and Central Asia because as you know, US has made a shift towards Asia."
"And because we see an Asian country like Bangladesh which has 6 percent annual growth as a model for economic growth that the entire region can subscribe to."
The deputy assistant secretary said for the US, the "greater connectivity" in any form was better for a country to develop.
It also helps a region to be stable with more prosperity, education and jobs, according to her.
Asked whether the US felt "threatened by the deepening relations between India and Bangladesh and whether Washington saw Bangladesh through the eyes of India, O'Connor said: "Absolutely not."
"We do not see Bangladesh through the eyes of anyone, but through the eyes of US. And for us, the relation between India and Bangladesh is a positive one, and the relation is a positive development".
She said the US and India had a "very vibrant" and "cooperative" relations on all fronts like "what we do with Bangladesh".
The greater cooperation helped to foster "trust", and more dialogue between the countries in the region meant "more stable and more economically prosperous" those countries were, the deputy assistant secretary explained.
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Lt Gen Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Huq new army chief

 

Human Rights Report:

Armed Forces Division's Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Lt Gen Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Huq will be replacing General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan at the helm of the force that has earned a name for itself in global peacekeeping.
Gen Huq will take charge as a general on June 25, Directorate of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director Shaheenul Islam told bdnews24.com.
Born in 1958, Huq joined the Bangladesh Army in 1978. He has been serving as the PSO since 2013.
His brother Annisul Huq was elected Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation in April.
Father to two, Shafiul Huq was awarded the 'Sword of Honour' for his outstanding performance in the Military Academy as a young cadet.
Huq completed Bachelor of Arts from Dhaka University and did his Master's in Defence Studies from the National University.
He also has a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree on regional connectivity from the same organisation.
Lt Gen Huq's military education includes a variety of training courses, both at home and abroad on strategic studies, tactics, military science, and weapon systems.
He is a graduate at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Bangladesh and also at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavanworth, Kansas, USA.
He attended National Defence Course and Capstone Course at NDC, Bangladesh.
Gen Huq took part in the UN peacekeeping missions as an observer in UNIIMOG (Iraq) and Deputy Force Commander of UNMEE (Ethiopia and Eritrea).
He served as the ADC to the President, Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and Chief of Staff of an Infantry Division.
He was also an Instructor at Bangladesh Military Academy and Chief Instructor at Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur.
He commanded two Armour Units, three Brigades (One Armour and two Infantry) and two Divisions, and served as Military Secretary and Adjutant General of Bangladesh Army.

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Taj Mahal ranked 3rd among world's top landmarks 

Human Rights Report:

According to TripAdvisor's 2015 Travellers Choice Attractions Awards, Taj Mahal was ranked third in the list of top landmarks. The top two places were taken by Machu Picchu in Peru and Angkor Wat in Cambodia respectively.
"The Travellers' Choice Landmarks highlight some of the world's most iconic, must-see attractions that have won over the TripAdvisor community," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.
Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late wife Mumtaz Mahal, the white marble mausoleum in Agra is also a symbol of enduring love.
In 1983, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Taj Mahal attracts 2-4 million visitors annually, with more than 200,000 from overseas.
The Tower of London was named as the best rated landmark in the UK with Edinburgh Castle in Scotland in second place.
"The UK is blessed with a lot of fantastic landmarks, but especially in the summer they can prove very popular, so it often pays to plan ahead and book a tour in advance," said a TripAdvisor spokesperson.
Gordon Innes, CEO London & Partners, the Mayor of London's official promotional company for London attributed the Tower's popularity last year to the "spectacular poppy installation" in memory of the war heroes of World War One, with more than five million attending the stunning display.
"It's no surprise that this world-famous landmark, along with six other iconic London attractions, have been deservedly championed by the TripAdvisor community," he said.
However, none of the UK landmarks made it to the global top 10.
The list is based on the millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers and the?winners are determined using an algorithm.

 

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Though ambitious, budget achievable: Muhith

 

Human Rights Report:

Observing that the budget is achievable though ambitious, Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday reiterated that income tax, corporate tax and value added tax (VAT) will be a major source of revenue in the next fiscal year.
'One of the major changes of this year's budget is income tax. Income tax will be the highest source of income in terms of revenue collection….tax is highly progressive and we'll focus mainly on income tax and corporate tax… another important source is value added tax,' he said.
The Finance Minister was discussing with high officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), including its Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman, the way of implementing the budget and meeting the revenue target at the NBR office in Dhaka.
Muhith voiced his conviction that the NBR is very much capable of achieving the revenue target to implement the budget as its manpower along with their efficiency has been increased.
He said they will try to achieve a 30 per cent revenue collection by the current year, saying: 'If we can do this, it'll be easier to achieve our target.'
The Finance Minister also said relief has been provided for the income tax payers in the upcoming budget. 'Nothing has been changed to the income tax; rather more relief has been provided.'
Talking about his visit to the NBR, Muhith said he is there to work out a plan as to who will be the possible target of NBR. 'There're lots of rich people at upazila level who are eligible for paying tax. Plan your job.'
About corruption, Muhith said he would not refuse that there is no corruption in the NBR or other offices under his ministry. 'But the scenario has changed now. Once people used to get scared seeing tax collectors, but there has been a massive change now as accountably, transparency and professionalism have been established.'

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Bangladesh working hard to strengthen democracy: PM

Human Rights Report:

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh is following Westminster democracy and has been working hard to strengthen its all democratic institutions, reports UNB from London.
"Though we've been trying to follow Westminster type of democracy, it's a difficult job. Anyway, we're improving gradually to this end," she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing a reception at the office of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), UK Chapter, at British Parliament on Monday. Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh Keith Vaz accorded the reception to the lawmakers who were elected for the first time to the British Parliament.
Sheikh Hasina said her vision is to build a Bangladesh which will be free from poverty where the key factors will be democracy and secularism.
Thirty British MPs, including Rushana Ali, Dr Rupa Huq, Jimi Fitzpatrick, Anne Main, Kate Osamer, Catherin West, Jonathon Shaw, Andy Slater, Baroness Paula Uddin and CPA UK Chapter Chief Executive Andrew Tuggy were present.
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow greeted the Prime Minister as she alighted from the car.
About secularism, the Prime Minister said the people of all religious faiths have the freedom to practise the rituals of their religions and that was enshrined in Bangladesh constitution.
The Prime Minister recalled with gratitude the British support for Bangladesh during its tumultuous birth and also in her fight to establish democracy in Bangladesh.
She sought more British support to continue Bangladesh's ongoing development, and said Bangladesh is making progress in every sector but it needs more support from Britain as the great country has long been supporting it.
Terming Britain as Bangladesh's major development partner, Sheikh Hasina hoped that the two countries would continue to work together for mutual benefits.
She recollected how the British MPs stood by her during the 2007-2008 tenure of a caretaker government which had refused to let her enter Bangladesh, but she returned home amid international and local pressure who also forced the government to hold parliamentary elections.
Turning to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Bangladesh visit, Sheikh Hasina said she told her Indian counterpart, "We've a common vision of rooting out poverty from the region forever."
Responding to the speech of a British parliament member in which he raised the issue of safety of the workers in Bangladesh's readymade garment industry, she said her government always works for the downtrodden people like workers, farmers and the common people. And has started taking care how the workers can get a good atmosphere in their workplace."
Congratulating the British MPs who were elected for the first time, the Prime Minister said they are performing their responsibilities as baroness and members of parliament. Sheikh Hasina said the people of Bangladesh struggled for establishing democracy for a long time. "But you are lucky that you are enjoying democratic system," she said.
In his welcome address, Keith Vaz praised the Prime Minister for her courageous work to establish a strong Bangladesh and that it was a great honour to have her at the programme.
Tulip Siddique, the new Bangladeshi-origin Labour MP and niece of the Prime Minister, said she has learned many things from her aunt Sheikh Hasina and that helped her be successful in the last polls. "We're very proud to have the Bangladesh Prime Minister in the British parliament," she said.

Eat peanuts everyday to slash early

death risk from cancer

Human Rights Report:

A new study has suggested that peanuts can protect against early death from cancer and heart disease.
The Maastricht University study found that men and women who eat at least 10g of nuts or peanuts and not peanut butter per day have a lower risk of dying from several major causes of death than people who do not consume them.
Researchers in the Netherlands said peanuts and tree nuts both contain various vitamins, fibre, antioxidants and compounds such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that can possibly contribute to the lower death rates.
They said peanut butter contains salt and trans fatty acids that could inhibit the protective effects of peanuts.
Women who ate nuts were also often leaner, had never smoked and were less likely to report diabetes.
Lead researcher Piet van den Brandt said that a higher intake was not associated with further reduction in mortality risk.

Skinny jeans given health warning

Human Rights Report:

Skinny jeans can seriously damage muscles and nerves, doctors have said.
A 35-year-old woman had to be cut out of a pair after her calves ballooned in size, the medics said in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
She had spent hours squatting to empty cupboards for a house move in Australia. By evening, her feet were numb and she found it hard to walk.
Doctors believe the woman developed a condition called compartment syndrome, made worse by her skinny jeans.
Compartment syndrome is a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within an enclosed bundle of muscles - in this case, the calves.
The condition caused the woman to trip and fall and, unable to get up, she then spent several hours lying on the ground.
On examination at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, her lower legs were severely swollen.
Although her feet were warm and had enough blood supplying them, her muscles were weak and she had lost some feeling.
As the pressure had built in her lower legs, her muscles and nerves became damaged.
She was put on an intravenous drip and after four days was able to walk unaided. Other medics have reported a number of cases where patients have developed tingly, numb thighs from wearing the figure-hugging low-cut denim trousers - although the chance of it happening is still slim for most people.

41 BD trafficking victims         return home

Human Rights Report:

A batch of 41 Bangladeshi nationals earlier trafficked into Thailand by sea arrive here on Wednesday evening, reports UNB.
A flight of Biman Bangladesh airlines -- BG 089 -- carrying them will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:30pm, said an official.
Among the returnees, 13 hail from Cox's Bazar, six from Jhenidah, five each from Narsingdi and Sirajganj, four from Satkhira, three from Magura, two each from Jessore and Bandarban, and one from Faridpur districts.
As a special measure and follow-up to Bangladesh's commitment made at the Bangkok Meeting on May 29 last, the repatriation of the 41 detained Bangladeshi nationals are being fully sponsored by the government of Bangladesh, which includes airfare, transportation from Suan Plu Immigration Detention Centre, Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport and other expenses.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok with the active support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Thai Immigration Bureau has so far repatriated 919 Bangladeshi nationals trafficked into Thailand since late 2013.
The Embassy has also repatriated 80 Bangladeshi nationals since the discovery of mass grave along the Thailand-Malaysia border on May 1, 2015.
The Embassy under the direct supervision of Ambassador Saida Muna Tasneem has been working relentlessly to expedite the return of all the remaining stranded Bangladeshi nationals in Thailand at the shortest possible time.
 

Women Entrepreneurs take the lead

Human Rights Report:

The 71st Social Business Design Lab organized by Yunus Centre took place on 16 April 2015 at the Grameen Bank Bhaban. The half day long program was chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, and brought together more than 130 participations from Bangladesh and abroad coming from diverse backgrounds.
Professor Yunus welcomed the participants to the Lab and updated the audience that 885 social business projects had been presented in the 70 labs organized to date since January 2013, of which 860 had been approved for investment, most of which were already in operation. He said that we would soon cross the 1000 invested projects mark. At the 71st Lab held today, six new Nobin Udyokta - new entrepreneurs from Grameen Bank families - presented their business plans. Remarkably, four of the six entrepreneurs presenting today were young women.
The businesses presented were Choa Boutiques by Ms Mafia Parvin making embroidered and applique bedspreads and covers ; Taslima Shoes by Md Al Amin producing fancy footwear; Najnin Handicraft by Ms Najnin producing creative and colorful beaded, cloth and a variety of other handicrafts; Shahed Decorator by Ms Poly Begum; Forhan Cow Fattening Farm by Md Forhan Firoz Rony and Khuku Mudi Store by Ms Khuku Rani.Ms Khuku Rani came from Thakurgaon and belongs to minority community in that region. She began her business with Tk 2000 and that has grown to Tk 83,000 through her own efforts. Investment from Grameen's social business fund would add another Tk 1.5 lakhs to her business.

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