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
