According to the documentation of Odhikar, on human rights violations which occurred during 01 to 31 January 2007, as many as 32 persons were killed by the law enforcement agencies. Of them, 16 were killed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 9 by police, 5 by the army and 2 by joint forces.
During 1-11 January, 2007, 6 persons were reportedly killed by the RAB, 2 by police.During 12 -31 January, 2007, during the emergency period, 24 people were killed by law enforcers. Of them, 10 were killed by RAB,7 by police, 5 by army and 2 by joint forces.
It may be noted that out of 32 people, who were killed by law enforcement agencies from January 1 to 31, 2007, 18 persons were killed in ‘Crossfire’. Among them, 12 were the victims of crossfire during the 12-31 January, emergency period. Among the crossfire victims, 10 people were killed by RAB, 2 by police. However, 1-11 January, 2007, before emergency period, 6 were killed by the RAB crossfire.
Out of the 32 victims, 14 were killed in various ways other than crossfire by law enforcement agencies. During the emergency 5 were reportedly killed by police torture, 2 died in the hospital after being arrested by police 3 were killed due to alleged torture by the army1 died while allegedly trying to escape from the army van which was carrying him, 1 jumped off a six storied building and died allegedly while in the custody of the joint forces, 1 was arrested by the joint forces and died in police custody, 1 died in the hospital after being arrested by the army.
Among the 32 persons who were killed 4 were from BNP, 3 from Awami League, 4 from Purbo bangle Communist Party (Janajuddho), 4 from Biplobi communist party, 1 from Purbo Bangla Communist Party, 1 was a freedom fighter, 1 was from Ganamukti Fauz, 1 was from Sramajibi Mukti Andalan, 1 was a cultivator, 1 was alleged a drug peddler, 1 was an under trial prisoner, 1 was a prisoner and 9 were alleged criminals.
Besides, 1-31 January a total of 8 persons died in jail custody due to illness.
1 police was killed in this month in a bomb attack.
From 1-31 January 2007 a total of 40059 persons were arrested, of them, 36250 were arrested during the 12-31 January, 2007 emergency period. It is noted that in Bangladesh, there are 11 central jails and 55 district jails and their total capacity is only 27227.
There have been 22 persons reportedly killed and 1223 injured due to political violence this month.
The report covering the human rights situation all over the country also shows that 3 journalists were injured, 4 arrested, 6 assaulted, 22 threatened and 8 cases filed against journalists during the month of January, 2007. Throughout the country, total 29 persons were the victims of rape. Among them 14 were children and 15 were women. Of them, 7 women were the victims of gang rape and 5 were killed after being raped.
Since 1-31 January 2007 a total of 21 women were victims of dowry. Of them, 17 women were killed, 2 were tortured and 2 committed suicide.
During this period, 72 children were victims of human rights violations. Of them, 30 were killed, 9 were injured, 14 were raped, 3 were abducted, 2 were arrested, 4 were victims of acid throwing, 3 committed suicide and 7 went missing.
A total of 13 persons including 4 children, 7 women and 2 men, were victims of acid attacks across the country in this period.
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has caused terrible human rights violations in the border areas of Bangladesh. 19 Bangladeshi people were killed, 16 were injured, 3 arrested, 11 abducted and 4 went missing. One incident of attack, 1 incident of hijacking and looting by BSF took place between 1-31 January 2007.
During 1-31 January 2007, a total 332 persons were killed throughout the country. Odhikar has prepared this report on the basis of 11 national dailies and its own fact-finding reports.
