Human rights situation worsening

MEDIA reports on Sunday said that by and large the human rights situation in the country remained the same like previous years due to a worsening of civil and political rights. It is heartening that Bangladesh made some notable progress in meeting its socio-economic targets in 2016, attaining, as it did, lower-middle income status in South Asia. However, the country is witnessing the disturbing 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 2016. The report notes that the past year was characterized by a shrinking space for freedom of expression and an increasing trend of militant attacks, extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, repression of minorities and violence against women and children.

Reports highlighted that some 195 people were killed in “crossfire”, “shootout”, and “gunfight” with law enforcement agencies and in their custody last year. Ninety-seven people fell victim to enforced disappearances. The law and order situation deteriorated after targeted killings of foreigners, religious minorities and free thinkers by religious bigots. Violence also took place in the Union Council elections, leaving 147 people killed, which was the highest in any UP election. The ASK deemed the incident of Nasirnagar in Brahmanbaria to be the biggest, where 15 temples and more than 50 Hindu houses were attacked over a Facebook post allegedly for hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. Seventeen journalists faced repression by law enforcers, influential people, local representatives, criminals, political activists and government officials. Such an alarming human rights situation is by no means acceptable in any society .

State machinery is supposed to guarantee human rights and provide safety to its citizens but it has become the cause of people’s insecurity so that the institutions of democracy and freedom are facing repeated threats. Moreover, the state has been more and more intolerant of dissent, curtailing freedom of expression both online and offline. So, the country is experiencing the decay of our professed democratic principles.

Concerted efforts of the government and the civil society are a must to establish equal rights and dignity of people irrespective of their caste and creed. Above all, the government has to play a more effective role to improve the human rights situation.