Rights organisation Odhikar on Friday said that the current political crisis should be resolved immediately by the two major political parties through discussion.
In its monthly human rights monitoring report released on Friday, Odhikar said that it feared that the country’s human rights situation would become more vulnerable if both the political camps failed to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
The rights watchdog also observed that ‘the peaceful political programmes should not be obstructed’ and the ruling Awami League government should refrain from exercising ‘unconstitutional, undemocratic and repressive activities’ like attacking peaceful procession and rallies.
The opposition parties should also conduct their programmes in non-violent manner, it stated.
According to the report, 27 people were killed and 3,433 injured in political violence in October. Twelve to the 27 were shot dead by law enforcement agencies during political violence.
At least 10 temples of the Hindu community were attacked and one of the temples was set on fire and 17 idols were vandalised in October, it said.
The organisation also demanded immediate repeal of the amendment to the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 as the amendment made by the government recently had made enormous scope for violating human rights by misusing the law.
‘The new amendment to the Act is also an obvious violation of right to privacy and personal liberty as stated in the constitution,’ Odhikar believed, ‘this Law is repressive and can be used to harass democratic values such as freedom of speech and expression.’
In the report, Odhikar expressed concern over deteriorating human rights situation in the country, and rights violation along the border by the Indian border security force.
‘The government should also ensure the safety and security of the Bangladeshi citizens residing in the bordering areas,’ it recommended as Indian Border Security Force have killed two Bangladeshi citizens and injured 11 others in the month.
Odhikar also blasted the extrajudicial killings by the law enforcing agencies.
The report said that 15 people became victims of extrajudicial killings by law enforcing agencies. Three of them were killed in ‘crossfire.’
Infrastructural problems in apparel factories, security, health and safety measures for workers in workplaces need to be ensured, it recommended, adding that wages and festival allowances should be paid to apparel workers in time and repression must be stopped by the factory authorities and industrial police. (source)