From: Labiba Choudhury <bristipat@gmail.com>
Subject: DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS DOCKED IN BANGLADESH
To:
Date: Monday, May 25, 2009, 1:47 AM
Post-poll Murder & Violence: In the first three months since January 2009, 62 people have been killed and 4258 have been injured largely by the cadres of the ruling party.
Campus Atrocities: The student/youth wing of the ruling party instigated clashes in most educational institutions that resulted in several deaths, many injuries, and closing down of 37 campuses throughout the country.
Crushing Opposition: The former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is facing the government's all-out challenge to evict her from her residence. Many leaders of the opposition parties are facing harassments and confinements and their free movements are obstructed/denied by the government.
Abuse of Legal Apparatus for Political Vendetta: While any crime should be tried and punished in accordance with law and under due process, the government is reviving the old issue of war crimes that they had themselves resolved in 1973 at the request of India and in favor of Pakistan, solely out of sheer political vendetta to victimize Islamic parties especially the leaders of Jamaat under The International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973. They are completely ignoring the fact that many provisions of this law are against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Covenants on Civil and Political Rights 1966, and a host of others international legislations, and above all, the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution of Bangladesh. The government is also trying to find an excuse to ban Islamic parties by restoring the '72 Constitution.
Press Harassment: In the first three months, 18 journalists were injured, 5 threatened, 3 attacked, and 4 assaulted, as well as a number of instances where the publication of news materials was obstructed by the authorities.
Extrajudicial Killings: 11 people were killed by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and several BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) members died in custody.
Torture Cells: In some universities, the youth/student wing of the ruling government has set up torture cells to inhumanly torture their political opponents and teachers. They have also established "rape and drug house".
Moving towards One-Party Rule: With the help of former Soviet-trained communist leaders (who have joined in the ruling government), the government seems to move towards one-party rule undermining/crushing opposition parties, democratic practices, and rule of law.
Minority Oppression: There are many instances in which the Hindu minority group has been oppressed by the ruling party. Recently a Hindu temple in Dhaka city has been demolished by the youth wing of the ruling party.
We are urgently in need of international cooperation and assistance to restore and preserve democracy, rule of law, human rights, freedom of movement, and minority rights in Bangladesh. We must not betray our conscience!