Staff Reporter :Amnesty International has said that human rights situation in Bangladesh continues to deteriorate as the government and opposition supporters have battled each other in the streets of Dhaka and other major cities in the past three weeks.Street violence continues to claim lives and lead to injuries, against the background of an opposition-imposed blockade on transportation, it said at a statement issued on Thursday. Accusing the government for detaining several senior members of the opposition with no proven link to the violence, the statement said, “Harassment of media editors and executives covering stories not favoured by the authorities continues, while security forces have announced their intention to open fire on anyone suspected of carrying a bomb.””In yet another manifestation of the current repressive climate for human rights in Bangladesh, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) appears to be using contempt of court convictions in a way that shrinks the space for freedom of expression,” it said.In this backdrop, Amnesty International urges the Government of Bangladesh to carry out thorough and impartial investigations into all instances of arson attacks and killings and bring those responsible to justice in fair trials. It also asked to release anyone detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression or peaceful assembly and ensure that law enforcement officials do not use excessive or unnecessary force and that where force is used, that force is in accordance with international standards.The rights group also asked to ensure that all the institutions of the state abide by the human rights obligations to which Bangladesh has committed.More than 100 vehicles and buses have been set on fire since 5 January when the opposition declared a transport blockade, with the government and opposition blaming each other for the violence. Unidentified people have hurled bombs at cars or buses, before fleeing the scene. Scores of people have been injured and more than a dozen killed in these arson attacks. Among the dead were four people whose bus was travelling from Kurigram to Dhaka when doused with petrol and set on fire on 13 January. Six other passengers in that bus were reportedly injured in the attack and needed hospital treatment.
