The number of casualties in political violence in the country has increased in January compared to last December. Although there is no political activity, the number of casualties in the violence caused by the internal conflict for their supremacy has increased, as well as the number of political leaders and activists killed by miscreants has increased.
This information was given in a report by the Human Rights Culture Foundation (MSF).
According to information published in various media outlets and collected by MSF, the Human Rights Culture Foundation published the Human Rights Situation Monitoring Report in January after reviewing the incidents of human rights violations. The report was released through a press release on Friday. Different situations are presented differently.
Casualties in political violence
According to the report, the infighting among BNP party workers has increased significantly, causing casualties and insecurity, which has created insecurity and fear in the minds of the people. In January, 604 people were victims of 58 incidents of political violence. Of them, 10 were killed and 594 were injured. Two of the injured were shot. Among the dead, five were from the BNP, three from the Awami League, one from Jamaat and one could not be identified.
Of the 58 incidents of violence, 41 were between BNP, two of Awami League, 12 of BNP-Awami League, two of BNP-Jamaat and one between Awami League and Jamaat.
Death in prison custody
According to the report, a total of eight people died in custody in January. Last month, the number was 6. Three inmates and five inmates have died this month.
Among the inmates, one died in Dhaka Central Jail, two in Nilphamari District Jail, one in Gazipur District Jail, one in Manikganj District Jail, one in Mymensingh Central Jail, one in Rajshahi Central Jail and one in Khulna District Jail.
According to the MSF report, such crimes can be controlled if the cause of death in custody is properly investigated and those responsible are brought to justice, along with improving the medical system inside the prison, ensuring the safety of the prisoners.
According to media reports, 12 cases were filed in January in connection with the violence surrounding the so-called anti-discrimination movement. Of these, four cases were filed against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the quota movement and another case was filed over irregularities in allotment of plots in Purbachal.
About 1,428 people have been specifically named in the list of accused in the total cases filed in the so-called quota movement filed this month. At the same time, the number of ‘unknown’ accused is at least 2,229. It is to be noted that for the first time, the two-time former president has been accused in the case of the attack on students and people in the so-called July coup. Abdul Hamid. Such a ridiculous event is rare in history.
Violation of the right to journalism and expression
The way journalists are being harassed, attacked, threatened and humiliated in several areas of journalism in January is not only undesirable, but also prevents the publication of objective news by suppressing the voice of honest journalism. However, the current interim government in their speech has expressed special importance on objective journalism and media freedom. The picture of journalism this month is worrisome.
In January, 21 journalists were attacked, threatened and tortured in 13 incidents while performing their professional duties in different districts of the country. Besides, two journalists were injured in clashes while performing their professional duties.
Among the journalists, 18 have been injured or attacked while performing their professional duties. Three people were assaulted and threatened. In this month’s 13 journalists, two involved BNP, one involving police, one involving chairman, one by Ansar guard, one by sand lifters, one by smugglers, one by local influencers, four by terrorist forces and one by government officials.
Persecution of minorities
According to the report, a total of nine incidents took place in January, including four of traditional religious persecution and five of ethnic minority persecution.
In Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Gazipur and Manikganj, idols were vandalized and gold ornaments were stolen.
On the other hand, on January 3, in Gobindaganj of Gaibandha, Santal women were beaten up, set on fire and sexually harassed by the accused chairman’s men over land grabbing.
On January 13, a fifth-grade indigenous student was raped by a man named Shahin while she was cutting grass in a maize field in Lalpur upazila of Natore. Although the accused Shahin has been arrested by the police, the victim’s family is living in fear under pressure from local influencers.
On January 15, people under the banner of a platform called ‘Students for Sovereignty’ attacked under the Motijheel metro station at noon during the ‘aggrieved indigenous students-people’ program centering the inclusion of graffiti with the word ‘indigenous’ in the textbooks. At least 10 people were injured in the incident. On January 16, ‘aggrieved indigenous students’ and people were attacked by police on their way to the Secretariat demanding punishment of those involved. Six to seven students were injured.
A total of 27 families of small ethnic groups have been held captive for five days by the neighboring land grabber Siddique Chowdhury Gangra in Kharibari Shyampur of Bahadurpur Union No. 8 of Niamatpur Upazila of Naogaon district. But this population has been living there for about 50/60 years.
MSF believes that such incidents will destabilize the atmosphere of communal harmony in the country, which is not good for the common people of Bangladesh.
Lynching
According to the report, mob lynching casualties have been occurring in the same sequence in January. Due to the alarming increase in the number of mob beatings at the present time, the issue of security in the minds of the people has become unquestionable.
According to statistics, there have been at least 21 lynching incidents this month, in which 12 people were killed and 18 seriously injured. Twenty victims of the mob beating were handed over to the police. Among the victims, six were suspected of thieves, two suspected of robbery, one suspected of mugging, one of extortion, one of them filmed the fight. On the other hand, two people were beaten to death for robbery, two for suspicion of theft, one for crime, six for extortion, three for previous enmity, two for attempted rape, two for robbery and theft. Ten victims of the mob beating were handed over to the law enforcers.
MSF considers that lynching in violation of the law must be a criminal offense, which is considered an extrajudicial killing. It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to identify the criminals involved in mob beating and take legal action against them.