full version - World Organisation Against Torture

Bangladeshcontinuing deterioration in law and order, including a rise in criminalactivity, murder, rape and acid throwing. At least 40 men reportedly diedas a result of torture after being arrested by the army. The governmentacknowledged only 12 deaths and claimed they were due to heart failure.Families of the victims and human rights activists, however, claimed thatthe deaths resulted from severe torture while in army custody.The failure of successive governments to address human rights violationsin a consistent and effective manner points to the desperate need for anindependent, impartial and competent human rights watchdog in the country- such as a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Humanrights defenders and the international community have been urgingBangladeshi governments to set up a NHRC. The present government hasacknowledged the necessity for its formation, but the government hasfailed to take the appropriate action to establish it.Following the elections in October 2001, Bangladesh witnessed unprecedentedlevels of political persecution and violence against supporters ofthe Awami League, which opposed the ruling party, the BangladeshNational Party (BNP). A new and frightening dimension has been addedto the form of this violence, specifically the targeting of women and girlsbased on the political affiliations of their families. Although this violenceis generally not committed directly by police officers or other Stateagents, the perpetrators are generally supporters of the ruling party, whilethe victims are generally supporters of the opposition party, and crimesappear to be politically motivated. The police often do not offer any helpto the victims as they are controlled and influenced by the ruling party andthus not sympathetic to crimes committed against these victims, resultingin a lack of due diligence.According to article 27 of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic ofBangladesh, “All citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to getequal protection of law”. Similarly, article 28(1) states that “the State shallnot discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of religion, race, caste,sex or place of birth.” But the reality is different than the constitutionalrights. Violence against minorities, particularly minority girls, is prevalentin Bangladesh.With respect to violence against girls, there are many documented cases.For example, on October 6, 2001, a 16 year old girl from the Azimnagar,31