HR Reports

Islamist Extremism in Bangladesh (CRS Report for Congress)

administrator — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:18:58 GMT

Islamist Extremism in Bangladesh (CRS Report for Congress)
Bruce Vaughn, Specialist in Southeast and South Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade

Summary

There is concern among observers that the secular underpinnings of moderate
Bangladesh are being undermined by a culture of political violence and the rise of
Islamist extremists. A further deterioration of Bangladesh’s democracy and political
stability may create additional space within which Islamist militants may be increasingly
free to operate. Such a development may have destabilizing implications for Bangladesh,
South Asia, and the Islamic world. They also have the potential to undermine U.S.
interests. See CRS Report RL33646, Bangladesh: Background and U.S. Relations, by
Bruce Vaughn, for additional information.

The Torture of Tasneem Khalil, How the Bangladesh Military Abuses Its Power under the State of Emergency.

administrator — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:25:36 GMT

This report presents the testimony of Tasneem Khalil, recounting his torture at the hands of Bangladesh’s military intelligence agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). To our knowledge, this is the most detailed public account of a case of torture in Bangladesh available anywhere. It demonstrates the nature of ongoing state-sponsored violence in Bangladesh, including the torture of critics of the current government.

Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency for more than a year, led by an interim government that was not elected and claims to be reform-minded. The current government, appointed in January 2007, replaced a previous caretaker government. It aims to remain in power pending national elections scheduled for 2008, though no specific date has been set yet.

Although it was installed by the army and Bangladesh has a long history of coups and abusive military regimes, the interim government was welcomed by many Bangladeshis and international observers when it was formed in January 2007 as a necessary antidote to massive corruption, widespread abuse of power, and a sense that the political process was failing to offer even the possibility of good governance.

What happened to Tasneem Khalil – which, sadly, is not uncommon – makes clear that when it comes to human rights a critical part of what was promised is not being fulfilled. After one year, the state of emergency not only remains in place but is being used to limit political party activity and restrict freedom of expression and assembly, with torture a frequent consequence for those who do not toe the line and end up in the custody of the security services.

Increased domestic and international pressure to end such abuses cannot await elections or formation of a new government. The fundamental rights set out in the Constitution should be immediately restored and respected. Ending illegal arrests and torture should not await an election. These should be a top priority of the interim government. Those members of the security forces who have been responsible for such egregious human rights violations should be brought to justice.

Read complete HTML version of the report at http://hrw.org/reports/2008/bangladesh0208/index.htm

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)- Sep 14, 2007

administrator — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:30:11 GMT

According to a study conducted by a Dhaka University professor, nearly 200,000 Hindu families have lost approximately 40,667 acres of land since 2001, despite the annulment of the Vested Property Act in the same year.

Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2006

administrator — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 05:45:05 GMT

Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2006

The Hindu American Foundation's third annual Hindu human rights report details violations against Hindus in areas where they are minority. It extends the scope of earlier reports by covering the nations of Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago, in addition to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. The human rights violations are in the areas of violence against women, murder, ethnic cleansing, temple destruction, socio-political ostracization, disenfranchisement, discrimination and forced conversions. As with previous reports, it has been instrumental in advancing knowledge and activism with other interfaith and human rights organizations, as well as elected officials and government agencies.

Find the original report at http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/reports.htm#hhr2006

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)-May 03, 2007

administrator — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:53:30 GMT

The Commission placed Bangladesh on its Watch List in 2005 due to a number of concerns:

• Islamist radicalism and violence, as well as the then government’s initial downplaying of the problem;
• the anti-minority, particularly anti-Hindu, violence that occurred following the last general election in 2001 and the failure to investigate and hold perpetrators to account for that violence and other instances of violence against members of religious minorities;
• the inadequate police response to the sometimes violent campaign against the minority Ahmadi religious community;
• discrimination against members of religious minority communities in public employment and access to government services; and
• the repeated and sometimes fatal attacks against journalists, authors, and academics for debating sensitive social or political issues or otherwise expressing opinions deemed by militants to be offensive to Islam.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)-May 03, 2007

administrator — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:50:51 GMT

The Commission placed Bangladesh on its Watch List in 2005 due to a number of concerns:

With Intent to Destroy: A research report on rape as genocide under ICC & International Law

administrator — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:58:53 GMT

Please read this research report on Rape as Genocidial Crime" from GHRD ( a partner of HRCBM). The reseach report analyses the concept of genocidal rape as a crime under substantial international criminal law. It also deplores the root cause of such crimminal offense. Click o nthe link below to download the complete report in pdf format. you will require adobe pdf reader to read it which is available free of charge from http://adobe.com .

Download report at http://hrcbmdfw.org/files/22/hr_reports/entry677.aspx

"With Intent to Destroy?"

Abstract:
This paper analyses the concept of genocidal rape as a crime under substantial
international criminal law. There is yet no consensus in the debate and
jurisprudence of contemporary substantial international criminal law as to the
definition and scope of rape as a genocidal act but as this paper will illustrate,
there is a discrepancy particularly between traditional defenders of fundamental
legal principles like nullum crimen sine lege and the heterogeneous feminist
critique. Another objective is to discuss whether or not the rapes that have
been taking place in Bangladesh post the 2001 elections, when the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power, may be classified as acts of
genocide under substantial international criminal law. The relevance of such a
research is evident; Bangladesh signed the Rome Statute in 1999 and accordingly,
the International Criminal Court may achieve jurisdiction over the
crime of genocide in respect to Bangladesh if the State takes steps to ratify
the Statute. In order for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to exercise
jurisdiction over this crime in the future, it is essential that such definition is
established. This paper constitutes a contribution to the debate with intent to
emphasise the importance of the ICC continuing its future expansion of the
investigation of the crime of genocide in a gender sensitive manner.
Key words: Bangladesh, Rape, International Criminal Law, Genocide, Gender
==============================================================

Thanks
Dhiman Deb Chowdhury
HRCBM
http://www.hrcbm.org
http://www.hrtribune.com
http://www.hrcbmdfw.org

Policy Focus- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

administrator — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:58:47 GMT

Bangladesh has experienced an upsurge in violence by religious extremists and, as a result, growing concerns expressed by the ountry’s religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)-May 03, 2006

administrator — Fri, 05 May 2006 05:07:36 GMT

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)- Bangladesh added to Countries Requiring Close Monitoring: the Commission’s Watch List

Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh- Seeing is Believing

administrator — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 05:16:32 GMT

See how the rights of minorities are violated in Bangladesh

Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kashmir

administrator — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 04:46:16 GMT

A Survey of Human Rights 2004 by Hindu American Foundation

Bangladesh: minorities increasingly at risk of displacement 28 March 2006

administrator — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:40:43 GMT

Bangladesh: minorities increasingly at risk of displacement 28 March 2006

Bangladesh: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 by U.S. Department of State

administrator — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:49:25 GMT

Bangladesh: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 by U.S. Department of State