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Amnesty
International Annual Report 2000
Bangladesh
People's Republic of Bangladesh
Head of state: Shahabuddin Ahmed
Head of government: Sheikh Hasina
Capital: Dhaka
Population: 125.3 million
Official language: Bangla
Death penalty: retentionist
1999 treaty ratifications/signatures: Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court
Institutional weakness, political
instability and unchecked police brutality appeared to be the major
factors in continued widespread human rights violations. Hundreds of
people were injured and dozens killed, some as a result of police action,
in nationwide strikes (hartals) called by opposition parties during
1999. Political party activists and student groups with links to the
ruling and opposition parties continued to perpetrate acts of violence,
including beating political opponents to death. Apparent corruption within
the police and the lower judiciary, and burdensome bureaucracy,
facilitated impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations and
impeded access to justice for those without money or political influence.
Background
Political confrontations between the major opposition parties and the
ruling Awami League, which were at times violent, dominated politics in
Bangladesh. A coalition led by the largest opposition party, the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party, accused the government of political and
economic mismanagement, boycotted sessions of parliament and local
elections and resorted to nationwide strikes which frequently brought the
country to a standstill. Violent clashes between government and opposition
supporters were a regular feature of the strikes. The government offered
to enter into negotiations with the opposition, proposing to hold early
elections. It later accused the opposition of not responding and stated
that it would complete its term of office.
Torture and ill-treatment by police
Disproportionate use of force by the police against demonstrators
continued to be reported throughout 1999. Scores of people were injured
when police indiscriminately beat anti-government protesters or
journalists covering the hartals. Torture, consisting mostly of
beatings by the police, was reportedly routine in all areas of the
country. It was used to extract bribes or information, or to inflict
punishment on detainees. At least three people were reported to have died
in custody as a result of torture.
Violence against women
Women were subjected to an increasing number of violent attacks,
highlighting the government's failure to take adequate measures to protect
women and address underlying gender discrimination. Custodial violence
against women continued to be reported, with at least three cases of women
being raped by police. In the wider community, hundreds of women and girl
children were scarred and maimed in acid attacks and scores of others were
murdered in dowry-related incidents.
The failure of law enforcement officials to exercise due diligence to
prevent, investigate and take legal action on acts of violence against
women meant that perpetrators were rarely held to account. In one case,
the police in Rajshahi were said to have demanded a large bribe before
taking action to investigate the reported gang rape of a 12-year-old girl.
Legal and institutional reform
Although the government committed itself to a range of institutional
reforms to improve human rights protection, implementation was unduly
slow. Neither the proposed National Human Rights Commission nor the office
of Ombudsman had been established by the end of 1999. Very few
recommendations of the Public Administration Reform Commission, set up to
examine ways of improving the effectiveness of public services, had been
fully implemented. Despite calls by human rights activists for the Special
Powers Act (SPA) to be withdrawn or amended, the law (which allows
detention without charge or trial for an indefinite period) was still used
to detain hundreds of people including political opponents. Although most
people held under the SPA were released after short periods, others
remained detained for prolonged periods. Some were released only after the
High Court ruled their SPA detention orders to be unlawful.
Death penalty
The death penalty continued to be imposed with at least 19 people
sentenced to death for murder. No executions were reported.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts
In May, tribal leader Shantu Larma finally took charge of the interim
Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, after delays caused by
disagreement over three government-nominated members. AI delegates who
visited the area in May found that almost two years after the signing of a
peace accord, some of its main provisions had not been implemented. These
included the rehabilitation of all returned refugees, settlement of land
confiscated from the tribal people, and withdrawal of non-permanent army
camps from the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Tension between pro- and anti-peace accord tribal groups and between
tribal inhabitants and Bengali settlers often erupted into violence. At
least six people were killed and dozens injured as the different groups
clashed with each other.
AI country visit
AI delegates visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts in May to assess the human
rights situation there.
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