Forced disappearance declines, cross-fire deaths rise: Ain O Salish Kendra

Human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) today said the overall human rights situation of the country was alarming in 2019.

The organisation made the remark while presenting its annual observation on the overall human rights situation in the country at the Jatiya Press Club.

The organisation said though incidents of forced disappearance declined this year, crossfire deaths at the hands of law enforcers rose. 

According to statistics compiled by ASK, 356 people were killed in crossfire or gunfight with different forces of law enforcers this year. Of them, 187 were killed during anti-narcotics drives of law enforcers.

Incidents of death and torture in police custody and recovery of bullet-ridden bodies also increased in 2019. The ASK study found that 14 people (after arrest) died in the custody of different law enforcement forces.

Killing of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in the border areas increased remarkably this year. BSF killed 43 Bangladeshis in 2019. Of them, 37 were shot dead while six others tortured to death.

The death toll was 14 in 2018.  

Violence against women rose worrying in 2019.  Around 1,413 women were raped this year while the number was 732 last year.

Of the 1,413, 76 were killed and 10 committed suicide after rape. 

Another disturbing human rights issue of this year was mob lynching. Many innocent people were beaten to death by mobs over rumours in the middle of the year. 

Infringement of freedom of speech/expression was also alarming in the running year.

The government passed the Digital Security Act 2018 this year despite huge criticism from journalists and human rights activists. Many people, including journalists and human rights activists, were harassed under this law.

Incidents of attacks and tortures on religious minorities also rose this year.