Dhaka, June 01: Close on the heels of Amnesty International's annual report on human rights status in many countries including Bangladesh, an NGO here alleged 142 people were killed in last month alone in incidents involving rights violations. In its monthly report, 'Odhikar', a human rights organisation, has said 142 people, including 41 children were killed in the country last month in such incidents, which also included 31 dowry deaths, the 'Daily Star' reported today.
During the month, 149 women and children were raped and 14 of them were killed thereafter, while 32 became victims of acid throwing, Odhikar alleged. During the same period, 183 children were subjected to torture, it claimed.
Amnesty, the London-based human rights watchdog in its report published last Wednesday accused Bangladesh authorities of having failed to investigate reported custodial deaths during 'Operation Clean Heart', the army-led anti-crime drive.
The government of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, which according to media reports is contemplating another round of crackdown on crime, has denied allegations of human rights violation with foreign secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury terming the AI report "one-sided".
Amnesty, headed by Bangladeshi-born Irene Khan, also criticised the authorities for not releasing details of a promised probe into alleged anti-minority violence after Zia's alliance government came to power. The government denied such attacks took place, charging the opposition of spreading "lies" against them.
Bureau Report