- Category: Open Letters
03 May 2021
H.E. Michelle Bachelet
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
RE: Crackdown on Press Freedom & Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh
Dear High Commissioner Bachelet,
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, we write to draw your attention to the escalating human rights violations perpetrated by the Bangladesh government, exemplified in part by the increasing crackdown on press freedom and the freedom of expression of journalists, activists, and dissidents.
- Category: Statements
JOINT STATEMENT
The Bangladeshi authorities must conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into the death of at least 14 protesters across the country between 26 and 28 March, and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, said 11 human rights organizations in a joint statement today. The organizations also called on the international community to urge Bangladeshi authorities to put an end to the practice of torturing and forcibly disappearingopposition activists.
Between 20 and 26 March 2021, police and members of ruling party Awami League attacked a series of protests across the country organized by different political and civil society groups, beat up and injured hundreds of largely peaceful protesters, according to local media reports.
- Category: Statements
The Bangladeshi authorities must end their escalating crackdown on human rights, and respect and protect people’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Bangladesh to curb protesters demanding justice for writer Mushtaq Ahmed’s death in prison on 25 February, the nine undersigned human rights organizations said in a joint statement today
- Category: Statements
A joint statement by AFAD and Odhikar on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2021
Dhaka/Manila, 8 March 2021: Violence and discrimination against women are widespread in Bangladesh. Moreover, due to rampant human rights violations such as enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody due to torture, majority of women from victim families face trauma, insecurity and financial difficulties. In Bangladesh, along with the repression by the authoritarian regime, women face a deep-rooted patriarchal power system. The victims of enforced disappearance or extrajudicial killing are mainly male who in most cases are breadwinners. Therefore, their disappearance or extrajudicial killing not only creates severe trauma in the families but also imposes extreme financial burden on them. Women, especially wives of victims, suddenly find themselves heading the household even as they struggle to cope with the trauma.
- Category: Statements
Statement of Odhikar
Odhikar is deeply concerned over the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed on 25 February 2021, who was detained in Kashimpur Central Jail under the repressive Digital Security Act, 2018. Police also attacked anti-government student organisations in Dhaka when they brought out a rally in protest of his death and to demand the repeal of the Digital Security Act, 2018. Many were injured and arrested and all were deprived of their freedom of peaceful assembly.
- Category: Statements
Manila: It has been eight years since the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, a community development worker from Laos. The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) continues to stand in solidarity with Sombath’s family, friends, and other human rights defenders who struggle to know the whereabouts of Sombath.
- Category: Statements
On the International Human Rights Day and commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the precursor of landmark international human rights instruments, human rights defenders (HRDs) have reasons to celebrate. Today, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) hails its members who have courageously and steadfastly protected and promoted human rights and fundamental freedoms particularly the right not to be subjected to enforced disappearance (ED).
- Category: Statements
A Joint Statement on International Human Rights Day, 2020
(Bangkok, Geneva, Hong Kong, Manila, New York, Washington D.C., December 10, 2020) – The international community should take a strong stand for the protection of human rights in Bangladesh, seven human rights groups said on International Human Rights Day. As Bangladeshis grapple with the impact of Covid-19, the ruling Awami League has used the pandemic to tighten the screws on critics and the free press, further entrenching authoritarian rule.