One of the common characteristics of almost every human being is that they compare themselves with those living surrounding them and prioritize their demands based on this assessment. In case of current Bangladesh the top priority of most of the people is to return home safely and lead a secured life at home as in observance of surroundings a strong perception has grown in most of the people that it’s enough that they are still surviving. Setting priority for a more peaceful and tranquil life is a far-cry for them. Why is the expectancy of people encompassed within such a narrow space?
Forced disappearance, extrajudicial killing, murder, torture in custody of the law enforcers, corruption, political harassment and other sorts of human rights abuse have become a part and parcel of life in Bangladesh. When a person goes out of home for professional or other needs, family members anxiously wait for his/her safely return. In case of those belonging to opposition political parties or critical to government or having soft corner to the opposition this reality is mostly visible.
The horrendous scenario can be seen in observance of many surveys and media reports. According to human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) recent survey, a total of 275 people have been killed during incidents of so-called ‘gunfight’ and ‘crossfire’ with law enforcers, in custody of law enforcement agencies, or being shot by law enforcers, while 427 women were raped between January 1 and June 30, 2018 across the country. So far 66 people were killed in ‘crossfire’ with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), 141 with police, 31 with DB police, and one with Naval police, the rights body report revealed.
Meanwhile, quoting noted national dailies of both Bangla and English as reference the latest survey of the ASK unveils that a total of 377 people have been the victims of extrajudicial killing in the guise of encounter or crossfire or gun-battle between January and August 2018. While publishing the ever most gruesome scenario of unlawful murder the rights body added, “The government has an obligation to protect each and every citizen of Bangladesh, whether they are criminal or not”. Another human rights body Odhikar terms this figure of extrajudicial killings as the highest figure since 2001.
However, the annual report of Odhikar has recorded that at least 139 people were the victim of ‘crossfire’ and 86 to enforced disappearance in Bangladesh in 2017 while 59 people also died in jail and another 77 people were killed in political violence during the same period. Besides, 783 people became victims of rape, 242 were subjected to sexual harassment, 256 women became victims of violence for dowry and 52 women were injured in acid attacks in 2017. New Age Reported
In fact, the real scenario of human rights violation is more appalling as the reports of those human rights bodies are usually prepared on the basis of reports published in the reliable national dailies or other news outlets or as per the records of law enforcers. In most cases of human rights abuse is not reported in the media due to hindrances on freedom of expression and media and also due to self-censorship, rights body Odhikar said adding that victims and their families refrained from making the incidents of violence on them public, due to fear of reprisals… the actual number of human rights violations were more than the information published.
The recent addition in the extrajudicial killing is the on-going anti-narcotics crackdown, a Philippines-style war on drugs. According to the ASK report, out of the 275 victims of extra-judicial killings in the first half of 2018, 176 have been killed between May 15 and June 30 alone in so called ‘gunfights’ with law enforcers amid the nationwide anti-drug drive that began on May 4.
The opposition political leaders and the victims have termed the drive as government’s unlawful motive of cleansing political rivalry ahead of the upcoming general election likely to be held no later than 28 January 2019 as per country’s existing constitutional obligation while analysts are considering the deadly move as gross violation of human rights.
Almost all national and international organizations including the United Nations, the European, the Amnesty International, the Human Rights Watch, Transparency International (TI), Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the like have frequently urged the Bangladesh government to take effective measures to stop extrajudicial killings.
A statement issued by the New York based rights body Human Rights Watch (HRW) on 6 June 2018 has urged the Bangladesh government for stopping extrajudicial killing. The statement has said that the Bangladesh government should order an independent investigation into allegations of extrajudicial killings during its new “war on drugs.”
“Everyone deserves a fair trial and to be safe from summary execution by state security forces,” Brad Adams, Asia director of HRW said and added, “The government of Bangladesh has long claimed that it has a zero-tolerance policy against abuses, yet we continue to see an ongoing pattern of unlawful killings, whether it is against alleged drug dealers, political opponents, or others.”
On the same date (6 June 2018) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein condemned the alleged extra-judicial killings of suspected drug offenders in Bangladesh and urged the authorities to ensure that these serious human rights violations were immediately halted and perpetrators brought to justice. “I am gravely concerned that such a large number of people have been killed, and that the Government reaction has been to assure the public that none of these individuals were ‘innocent’ but that mistakes can occur in an anti-narcotics drive,” High Commissioner Zeid said adding, “Such statements are dangerous and indicative of a total disregard for the rule of law. Every person has the right to life. People do not lose their human rights because they use or sell drugs. The presumption of innocence and the right to due process must be at the forefront of any efforts to tackle crimes.”
The government especially the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) is using the law enforcers as their muscleman mainly to combat opposition force resulting in the law enforcers are enjoying a deliberate relief from all sorts of accountability. The law enforcers have turned into a dreadful killing squad. Murder, forced disappearance and torturing in custody have become the regular practice of them. The sensational seven-murder incident perpetrated by RAB in Narayanganj is still a trauma for thousands of people across the country.
Due to growing unethical practices and culture of immunity corruption has overshadowed not only the law enforcing agencies but almost all key sectors of the state are the victim of it.
According to the recent survey entitled “Graft in Service-oriented Sectors: National Household Survey 2017”conducted by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) published on August 30, 2018, the law enforcement agency was the most corruption-riddled service sector of Bangladesh in 2017. After the law enforcers, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority or BRTA and the Department of Immigration and Passports were most corrupt agencies while BRTA tops the list of agencies hit by bribery. The other top corrupt sectors are judicial service, land, education and health, according to the survey.
The report said an estimated Tk 106.89 billion (around 1.34 billion US Dollar) had been exchanged in bribe in the service-oriented sectors last year. The figure was Tk 88.22 billion (around 1.1 billion US Dollar) in 2015. The amount of bribe paid by the households was 0.5 percent of the country’s GDP in fiscal 2016-17 and 3.4 percent of the national budget (amended) for the same fiscal year.
As a journalist the writer of this write up was present at the press conference of the TIB where the survey report was formally published. In reply to a question by the journalist TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “This shows those who misuse powers have established it [bribery] in such a way that it has been institutionalised. On the other hand, those who are forced to pay bribes are unintentionally reaching a point of accepting it [bribery] as part of their lives.”
The scenario of money laundering is more astounding. According to a study of the US-based Global Financial Integrity (GFI) released on 1st May 2017, on average, $6.16 billion was siphoned out of Bangladesh a year between 2005 and 2014. The unrecorded capital flow from Bangladesh stood $61.63 billion between 2005 and 2014, riding mostly on misinvoicing. The amount is even bigger than the size of Bangladesh’s current national budget.
Analysts have pointed finger to political instability and government inefficiency for this horrible swindling of country’s money. Former finance adviser to a caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam told media at that time that political uncertainty would have to be removed to prevent illicit capital flight. The government should ensure investment friendly atmosphere in the country so that people can make investment easily, he added.
Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), however, told that infrastructural drawback of the country discouraged businessmen to make fresh investment. On the other hand, and political uncertainty encourages them to send their cash to a safe place.
However, it is known by all that who played the role as mastermind in looting country’s share market. Even the probe body chaired by Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled submitted the report to Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith but could not dare to disclose the name of the looters. What we saw is that Muhith with a smiling face like a notorious villain in the film appeared before the media and replied that the name could not be disclosed for their super position. Who is in the superior position than that of a Finance Minister of a country like Bangladesh?
When the overall situation is this the three-time former prime minister and leader of the main opposition political alliance Begum Khaleda Zia has been awarded five-year jail in a controversial graft case. The ex PM was convicted for embezzling more than $260,000 funds (over Tk 21 million) meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust though she repeatedly mentioned the allegations as politically-motivated.
The most interesting fact is that during the two-year emergency government before 2008 national election the then both prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina were accused of many corruption cases. After assuming power by Sheikh Hasina all cases against her were promptly withdrawn in recognition of political harassment case but all cases against Khaleda Zia have been gradually activated. Anyone can see in the white eyes that she is the victim of political hatred.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of opposition activists of both BNP and it’s main ally Jamaat-e Islami have been harassing politically. They cannot stay at their home. Many of them have already been detained and other living a Ferrari life. Leaders and activists of both BNP and Jamaat—Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal and Islami Chattra Shibir— are also the victim of political harassment across the country. They are the regular victim of forced disappearance and crossfire. Dear motherland has become a great jail for them.
On the other hand, leaders and activists of ruling party’s student front Bangladesh Chattra League are committing all sorts of offences including murder, rape, extortion and the like but enjoying an undeclared immunity. For an example, I just want to quote a part of editorial from noted English daily the New Age: “Since the middle of January, a group of Dhaka University students started protests on the campus demanding the cancellation of the recent affiliation of seven colleges to the university. On January 15, Chhatra League activists attacked protesting students, beat them and even sexually harassed some female students to foil the general students’ protest. As part of the evolving situation, general students under the banner of ‘students against repression’ were holding a sit-in at the vice-chancellor’s office when Chhatra League activists attacked them and injured at least 50 protesting students.”
In unbiased reviewing of overall situation of Bangladesh it is very clear to any sensible person that a ruling of fascism is going on here in the guise of democracy. The voice of media is fully controlled. Even in case of any critical speech against the government at social media is not tolerated. The arrest of noted photo journalist Shahidul Alam and prior to that harassment on political analyst Forhad Mozhar and continuous pressure on editor Mahmudur Rahman are reminding the media as well as mass people that no opposition stand will be tolerated.
Most of the world media have already focused on this issue that Bangladesh is rapidly emerging to autocracy in the guise of democracy under Sheikh Hasina. The Aljazeera has made a large report on it. Quoting Asif Nazrul, professor of law at Dhaka University, as saying the report stated, “It’s a government and a political party which believe that they are not accountable to anyone. It’s a dangerous sign in a democracy.” The report also started with a very direct statement like, “The controversial jailing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the state persecution of dissent have raised fears that the next parliamentary election could turn into a violent sham.”
What is the solution of it? It seems that huge mass upsurge and rising from the young generation may contribute a pivotal role here. The recent movement of the teenagers on demand of justice and road safety has proved it. However, situation is obviously complicated but it is hopeful that a young force completely non-biased by political hypocrisy and fully biased to justice and democracy is rising rapidly. May be it is not so far that fascism will be removed and justice will be established.
Writer: Journalist