Annual Human Rights Report | 2009
Read Odhikar's Annual Human Rights Report 2009
 Publication      | 2008       LABOUR RIGHTS

In Readymade Garments Industry in Bangladesh

 Annual Human Rights Report | 2008
Read Odhikar's Annual Human Rights Report 2008
 Annual Human Rights Report | 2007
Read Odhikar's Annual Human Rights Report 2007

 

 

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

 

 

Human Rights Defenders Conference

 Milestone Judgements
 

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"                             

                                                               [Source: Amaerdesh ,21 February 2010]


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.

Human Rights Monitoring Report

August 2010

  • Amar Desh Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman and journalist Oliullah Noman imprisoned for Contempt of Court;

  • Arrests of Trade Union leader, NGO activists and garment workers;

  • Odhikar rejects the statement of DG, RAB regarding extrajudicial killings;

  • Youth released by RAB after a long detention;

  • Police disperse meetings and human chains;

  • Attack on religious minority communities; 

  • Continuation of political violence;

  • Police baton charge at students of Chittagong University;

  • Verdict of the BDR mutiny case at Sylhet;

  • Violence against women continues

 

  [English Version]  [Bangla Version]        

Fact-finding Report

Disappearance of Mohammad Chowdhury Alam, Ward Councilor Number-56 of Dhaka City Corporation

Mohammad Chowdhury Alam (66), Councilor of 56 number ward of Dhaka City Corporation and a resident of 315/C Khilgaon, was abducted from in front of Metro Garden on 75, Indira road on June 25, 2010. The family alleges that he was taken away in a micro-bus, by 7/8 men who dressed in plain clothes and identified themselves as law enforcement officers. His son, Abu Syed Chowdhury Himu, claimed that, Mohammad Chowdhury Alam was abducted by law enforcement officers and in response, on the 4th of July, 2010, he filed a Habeas Corpus petition at the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. At that time, Judge H.M Shamshuddin Chowdhury and Judge Sheikh Md. Zakir Hossain, sat at the division bench. The Court, without issuing any rule on the habeas corpus, wanted to give the police a directive. Hearing this, the concerned lawyers decided to withdraw the writ petition. On 18th July, 2010, Abu Syed Chowdhury Himu, again filed a petition about Mohammad Chowdhury Alam having gone missing, at the division bench which comprised of Justice Mamnun Rahman and Justice Syeda Afsara Zahan. Having taken the matter into consideration, on 19th July, 2010, the court ordered the Police IGP and Police DG to immediately investigate the matter and take effective steps. The Court also ordered for a report to be submitted on Mohammad Chowdhury Alam’s abductors.

[English] [Bangla]

 

Fact-finding Report

Death of Motor Mechanic Rabiul Islam Khokon, Due to Torture Inflicted while in Custody at Chatkhil Police Station under Noakhali District

Rabiul Islam Khokon (23), a Mechanic in Majjatpara village in Chatkhila, Noakhali, was taken into remand on the 12th of May, 2010 at 1.00 am in the morning. His parents Md. Shahjahan and Rawshan Akhter accused Sub-Inspector Abdul Mannan of having tortured their son in remand. Khokon was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on the morning of the 13th of May where he died while under medical care. The family accused Sub-Inspector Abdul Mannan of torturing Khokon in police custody at the station and thereby bringing about his death. The accused, Sub-Inspector Abdul Mannan was at the Noakhali district jail at the time of preparing this report.

[English] [Bangla]

Fact-finding Report

Mohammad Manik allegedly died in the custody of Kotwali police in Chittagong

On 11 May 2010 at around 7.00 a.m, Mohammad Manik (38), a night guard of Anjuman Residential Hotel of Reazuddin Bazar, 116 Station Road, under the Chittagong City Corporation, died in the Kotwali police station of Chittagong, while he was in custody of the police. The family alleged that Sub Inspector Yunus Mia arrested Manik on 10 May 2010 and tortured him during interrogation which caused his death. Manik, son of Ziaul Haq came from Charparbati village of Kompanigonj police station under the district of Noakhali

[English] [Bangla]

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Odhikar organised a  discussion meeting at the National Press Club, Dhaka and  rallies in four districts        (Satkhira, Sirajganj, Tangail and Munshiganj)  on June 26 on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.                                                                                    [English] [Bangla]

Statement

  UPDATE ON MAHMUDUR RAHMAN'S BAIL APPLICATIONS

On July 12, 2010 a Division Bench of The High Court Division comprising of Justice Dastagir Hossain and Justice A.K.M.Zahirul Huq granted bail to Mahmudur Rahman, Acting Editor of the Daily Amar Desh in four cases namely Tejgaon Police Station Case No. 2(6) 2010, Kotwali Police Station Case No. 5(6)2010, Uttara Police Station Case No.43 dated 19.04.2010 under Section 6(1) of the Anti Terrorism Act 2009 and in the Sedation Case  No. 21(6) 2010 filed at the Airport Police Station under sections 121A, 124A and 114 of the Penal Code.

On July 13, 2010, Mahmudur Rahman has been shown arrested in the Anti Corruption case filed at the Gulshan Police Station on June 13, 2010. Metropolitan Magistrate Konika Biswas passed the order in response to the prayer made by the Deputy Director of the Anti Corruption Commission Nur Ahmed.

In the case statement, the ACC assused Mahmudur Rahman of committing punishable offence by not submitting his wealth statement within the stipulated period after receiving its notice.

Today on July 14, 2010, the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Justice Mozammel Hossain stayed the bail granted at the Tejgaon Police Station Case No. 2(6) 2010 and fixed the bail granting order at Kotwali Police Station Case No. 5(6) 2010 at the full bench of the Appellate Division on July 18, 2010.

Odhikar demands unconditional release of Mahmudur Rahman and withdrawal of the cancellation of the publication of the Amar Desh.
It is to be noted that most of the custodial torture takes place in the custody of the law enforcing agencies when they bring the accused in their custody from the Magistrate for interrogation under remand.

Police arrested Mahmudur Rahman from his newspaper office at the early morning of June 2, 2010 after the government cancelled the declaration of the newspaper on June 1, 2010 afternoon.


                                            

          [Statement - 8 June, 2010]

                                                                                                    

                                               [Statement - June 6, 2010] [Statement - June 3, 2010] [Statement - June 2, 2010] Urgent Appeals on Mahmudur Rahman case: [Human Rights Watch] [THE OBSERVATORY OF HRD]  [ForntLine]

                                                                                                   

 

Letters of concern from Forum Asia and Observatory  regarding the refusal to extend Odhikar's project by the NGO Affairs Bureau

  • NGO Affairs Bureau’s Rejection of Odhikar’s Human Rights Project Extension (Forum Asia)                     [read details]

  • URGENT ALERT (Forum Asia)   [read details]

  • Concern following the denial of extension of a human rights project led by Odhikar                                [read details]

                                                                                                                                                                                                 

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women observed.                      Odhikar organised roundtable meeting and rallies.

Odhikar, in collaboration with the May 18 Memorial Foundation of South Korea, organised a roundtable on 25 November 2009 at the VIP Lounge of the National Press club on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Odhikar also carried out rallies in five districts to observe the day with the slogan "We can stop violence against women".                                                                                                                                                                                                                         [Read More]

              International Human Rights Day : 10 December

On 10 December 2009, Odhikar and New Age, an English language national daily newspaper, jointly organised a roundtable on “Extra-judicial Killings and the Rule of Law” at Spectra Convention Centre in Dhaka on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. [Read More]                                                                                                                                                           

 
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