The
character at right represents the
Government telling human rights organisation 'Odhikar' (on left) to lie down in a grave.
Behind that is a grave marked "Deceased: Human
rights. Died in 2009"
In 1994, a group of human rights activists initiated discussions and
underscored the need to uphold the civil and political rights of the
people of Bangladesh along with social, cultural and economic rights.
Eventually, a decision was arrived at to form an organisation in order to
advance such rights.
Disappearance of Jubo Union
Organiser, K M Shamim Akhtar, after being picked up by
members of LEA from Purana Paltan Line in Dhaka City
On September 29, 2011 at
around 8.15 in the morning K M Shamim Akhtar (36) was
arrested by the members of the law enforcing agency from
6/1, Purana Palton Line, Dhaka-1000. He was the son of Khan
Mobarak Hossain and Zohra Akhtar; and a resident of 12/4,
Purana Paltan Line (5th floor), of Dhaka
Metropolitan City. Shamim’s family alleged that his
whereabouts remain unknown from the day he was picked up by
the law enforcing agency.
Soldier Al
Masum allegedly tortured after the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)
mutiny
Al Masum is the
eldest of five children of Motahar Hossain and Razia Begum
of Dohorpara village, Kotalipara Thana of Gopalgonj
district. He was a soldier of the 24 Battalion of BDR. His
family alleged that he was arrested in March 2009 and
subsequently tortured due to the incident of BDR mutiny at
Pilkhana, Dhaka. At present, Al Mamun is in the Dhaka
Central Jail.
Odhikar’s concern about
the proposed Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2011
Odhikar is deeply concerned
to learn from the media of the proposed amendments to the
Anti-Terrorism Act 2009, approved by the Cabinet meeting on
December 26, 2011, which has widened the scope of the Act by
approving death penalty for financing terrorist activities.
The existing law stipulates that a person guilty of the
offence of financing acts of terrorism shall be sentenced to
not more than 20 years and not less than three years of
imprisonment. According to new amendments, as reported by
media, a person or entity will be considered a terrorist if
they harm or help harm another country while staying in
Bangladesh.
Odhikar: 17 Years of Protecting
Rights, Freedom and Justice
Odhikar marks its 17th year of
formation on 10 October 2011, which is also the World Day
Against the Death Penalty Campaign against the death penalty
is one of the many areas in which Odhikar has dedicated itself
for last seventeen years. Created after the fierce movement
against military dictatorship, Odhikar as a network of human
rights defenders in Bangladesh, has earned its credibility by
becoming a part of the peoples’ movement to constitute
Bangladesh as a democratic state, ensuring liberty, rights,
justice and participatory governance. Odhikar’s core
commitments for human rights and rule of law; and against
discrimination, exploitation and impunity remain as relevant
as they were on the day of its formation. The struggle it
started in 1994 continues today, even more intensely and under
restrictive conditions.
[Read more]
International Day
in Support of Victims of Torture
Odhikar organised a discussion meeting at the National
Press Club, Dhaka and rallies in six districts
(Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong, Sylhet) on June 26
on the occasion of the International
Day in Support of
Victims of Torture.
World Press Freedom Day is
observed every year on 3rd May worldwide. This is
the day to evaluate press freedom, create awareness
regarding the importance of an independent media and to
remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the
right to
freedom of expression.
To observe the World
Press Freedom Day, these programmes took place in Barisal,
Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur Sylhet and Chittagong. Odhikar
organised rallies and submitted memorandum to the Deputy
Commissioners and Superintendents of Police through its
human rights defenders and local journalists. A discussion
meeting was also organised at the Odhikar office.
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC)
and the Philippine Coalition for the ICC (PCICC) organized the “Regional
Strategy Meeting for Asia and the Pacific” in Quezon City, The Philippines,
from 11-12 April, 2011, to form strategies to move forward support for
justice and accountability throughout the region.
[Read more]
AFAD's Concern on the Recent Rise of Cases of Enforced
Disappearances in Bangladesh
