Published in The Daily Star on 31 Dec. 2014 ::
The human rights situation in Bangladesh was alarming in 2014, says an annual report published by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) today.
At least 88 people became victims of forced disappearance this year. Twelve of them returned while bodies of 23 were found later, Ain o Salish Kendra Executive Director Sultana Kamal said while placing the report on human rights situation of the country.
Two people were sent to jail on different charges while the rests’ whereabouts were not known, she told reporters at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
According to the report, 128 people were killed in “gunfights” with the law enforcers across the country this year which numbered at 72 in 2013.
“This year, we have seen a tendency of law enforcers to shoot the victims in their legs during the gunfights,” Sultana added.
The reports also said 761 houses and 193 business establishment of Hindu community were vandalised and torched in 2014. “Not only this, a total of 247 Hindu temples and idols were damaged all over the year,” the ASK executive director said.
The number of the border killings stood at 273 while the custodial death at 60 this year, the report said. The report further showed that two journalists were killed while 78 others were tortured in 2014.
Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/human-rights-situation-was-alarming-in-2014-ask-57833