Human rights violations in 2015

It is heartening that Bangladesh made some notable progress in meeting its socio-economic targets in 2015, attaining, as it did, lower-middle income status and the title of the most successful country in South Asia in the area of agriculture and food security. However, we are deeply disturbed by the alarming decline in civic and political liberties in the country, as highlighted by prominent human rights watchdog, Ain O Salish Kendra, in its Human Rights Review Report 2015. The report notes that the past year was characterised by a shrinking space for freedom of expression and an increasing trend of political violence, extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, repression of minorities and violence against women and children.

It is alarming that violations of human rights by state agencies continued unabated the past year, with the number of extra-judicial and custodial deaths exceeding that of 2014. Meanwhile, at least 55 people were victims of "enforced disappearances", the whereabouts of 35 of whom still remain unknown. If state machineries, which are supposed to guarantee human rights and provide safety to its citizens, become the very cause of people's insecurity, the very foundation of democracy and freedom are threatened. Additionally, we note with concern that the state has been increasingly intolerant of dissent, curtailing freedom of expression both online and offline. This, too, is in contradiction to our professed democratic principles. 

Growing extremism and violence against minorities emerged as a dangerous trend last year, one which must be tackled methodically by the government. It can waste no more time in bringing to book the murderers of bloggers and foreigners, and ending, in general, the culture of impunity that protects perpetrators of gross human rights violations in the country.

Let us hope that the New Year does not see a repetition of the past year and that the government renews its efforts to guarantee civil liberties for all.