Staff Reporter :
The overall human rights situation across the country remained at an alarming level throughout 2017, said the annual report of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).
It mentioned on Sunday , the number of rape, sexual assault and incidents of violence against women was higher in 2017 than last year. A total of 818 women were raped across the country, of which 47 were killed after rape and 11 committed suicide. In 2016, a total of 659 women were raped.
About 255 women were victims of sexual assaults in 2017, 244 in 2016. Among those, 12 committed suicide, and three women among 13 were killed as they tried to protest.
A total of 303 women became victims of violence over dowry, of which 145 were killed and 10 committed suicide. Also, 441 women were victims of domestic violence, including 270 being killed by in-laws and 34 killed by own family members, while 57 committed suicide. Besides this, 10 women became victims of fatwa, 43 house helps were tortured among which 26 died, and 32 women were victims of acid throwing which saw death of one.
However, as per the findings, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, killing in political violence and repression of minorities decreased in 2017 compared to that of the previous year.
Freedom of expression is constitutional right, but it was violated on several occasions, ASK said, adding that government vigilance on different mass and social media under section 57 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act continued this year.
The rights body observed the proposed Digital Security Act also is similar to the Section 57 of ICT Act, which hinders the freedom of expression of people.
A total of 54 people were sued under the section 57 of ICT Act this year, it said.
The number of 122 journalists across the country faced repression and assault from by law enforcers, influential people, local representatives, criminals, political activists and government officials while performing their duty this year, which was higher than that of 117 in 2016.
Meanwhile, a total of 162 people were killed in “crossfire”, “shootout”, and “gunfight” with law enforcement agencies and in their custody in 2017, which was lower than that of some 195 in the previous year. The number of such deaths was 192 in 2015 and 128 in 2014.
Besides, arrest, abduction and detention by plainclothes men identifying themselves as law enforcers continued in 2017. However, the number of people who fell victim to enforced disappearance has fallen to 60 in 2017 compared to 97 last year.
Of them, 14 were shown arrested, and 16 others returned to their families. Two were found dead while the rest remained untraced.
The repression of minorities decreased in 2017, as per the report.
It also praised the government’s efforts in giving shelter to the persecuted Rohingya minorities of Myanmar, delivery of verdict in Narayanganj 7-murder case, approval of draft of The Dowry Prohibition Act- 2017, etc.
A total of 1675 children were victims of torture and killing this year, among which 339 were killed, 117 committed suicide, and 37 faced “mysterious deaths”. Also, there were 565 cases of sexual assault, rape, and harassment of children in 2017. The figure was 415 in 2016 and 133 in 2015.
A total of 258 cases of attacks on minorities took place in 2017, which was 391 in 2016 and 317 in 2015.
The incidents included attack and vandalism of 212 temples, 45 houses and 21 businesses of people of Hindu community across the country, and killing of one Narayan Chandra Das in Hatiya of Noakhali over extortion.
