Please - Odhikar

focus on legal agencies and human rights. As experts and defenders of human rights, I don't
have to tell any of you the great importance, sensitivity and risk involving human rights
violation by law enforcement agency. Ideally, human rights should be a top priority for law
enforcement agents and a consideration in all actions we take. Unfortunately, this isn't really the
case anywhere.
In Bangladesh, an emerging democracy with serious resource constraints, high levels of
corruption, and a political and legal system that is not really well equipped or willing to deal
with human rights violation, it is especially important that citizens' political and civil rights are
carefully safeguarded. Transparency International in Bangladesh has repeatedly identified the
law enforcement agency as the most corrupt institution in the country. The reasons are many and
are quite complicated. But none can justify the abuse of human rights violation either by a law
enforcement agent or an institution.
BHRAP support for Odhikar is based on our belief that it is a government's responsibility to
protect the human rights of its citizens. And the government is obligated to live up to its
international commitments to enforce the law and to ensure the human rights.
We also believe that a citizen in a democracy has the obligation to hold the government and its
agencies accountable. The work of watchdog groups like Odhikar makes this possible. BHRAP
has supported Odhikar's investigation, research and publication in human rights violation
projects for almost 3 years now. Through this project Odhikar monitors 12 police stations in and
around the Dhaka metropolitan area and documents abuses of Section 54 of the Code of
Criminal procedure, Section 86 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordnance, and under the
Special Powers Act 1974 - both of which allow arrest and detention without a warrant or order
from a magistrate, on 9 different grounds for up to 24 hours. And both of which are sources of
significant controversies.
A section of the guests present in the discussion meeting
Report 2005
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