HUMAN rights campaigner Odhikar said that at least 139 people fell victims to ‘crossfire’ and 86 to enforced disappearances in Bangladesh in 2017. Besides, 59 people ‘died’ in jail and 77 people were killed in political violence while 783 people became victims of rape, 242 were subjected to sexual harassment. Such a tragic situation for human rights has been continuing.
The occurrence of enforced disappearances has become quite frequent since 2007. At first, the victims were mostly notorious criminals but later the victims were mostly activists of opposing political parties. Some became victims for not paying ransom. It is also true there have now grown private parties who kidnap for money.
But the problem the government cannot appreciate is that the lawlessness by government creates opportunities for criminal to commit crimes. The blame has to be borne by the government. Crossfire killings cannot be permitted in a free country. Our Constitution dictates that no man can be deprived of his life without due process of law. We do not want to see the police as killers of life.
The government is busy with mega projects of bricks and iron.
