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Law & Order

Government urged to disband RAB

The government should disband the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Human Rights Watch said Monday. In a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it said that until the RAB was disbanded, it should be made an entirely civilian force by withdrawing all military officers and soldiers from its membership. RABEvidence that RAB officers were responsible for the contract killings of seven men in April, allegedly on behalf of a ruling party member, have provoked outrage in Bangladesh and are yet another example of how the unit has operated as a deat...

74 forced disappearance victims this year

At least 74 people are known victims of forced disappearance from January to May, according to a human rights body. RABTwenty-three were found dead with eight others released by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) said at a Tuesday (June 24th) press conference, the Dhaka Tribune reported. ASK director Nur Khan said, "Police do not want to register cases when victims' families go to any police station." "On December 4th, 2013, I handed over my son, Adnan, to some people who identified themselves as RAB members. They told me that...

Judiciary undermines its own independence in Bangladesh: ALRC

The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) has wished to bring the status of the judiciary and legal profession of Bangladesh to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council. ALRC says, Bangladesh has been Member of the Human Rights Council virtually since its formation. The country has been party to two international Covenants and eight Conventions. Being a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Bangladesh is obliged to ensure the independence of the judiciary. It is mandatory for Bangladesh to take administrative, legislative, and judicial measures to implement the rights enshrined in the ICCPR.

Despite strong laws, graft goes unchecked

Bangladesh’s failure to implement laws intended to protect whistleblowers and guarantee its citizens’ right to information has allowed corruption to flourish in the country. This the conclusion reached in a new report by Transparency International, an NGO that monitors and reports on corporate and political corruption. lawsDespite having a strong Right to Information law, 88 percent of requesters reported having to visit the information provider’s office numerous times, 29 percent reported facing harassment, 26 percent faced difficulties finding the responsible...

Chains of corruption strangle nation in Bangladesh: AHRC  

The rule of law does not exist in Bangladesh, said a statement of Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). The statement says, the way the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) abducted seven men, including a senior lawyer and a member of the mayoral panel of the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), on 27 April 2014, and murdered them, allegedly on behalf of a feuding faction of the ruling party, in exchange for a 60 million Taka (US$ 774,000) bribe, is proof yet again of this fact. The role of family members of a cabinet minister in masterminding the operation, police inaction in the face of knowledge of the abduction, and eyewash gestures at the highest levels of government confirm fears. The politics of blood and wealth reign supreme in Bangladesh; there is no space for the rule of law. A ‘cha...

Right bodies accuse govt of favoring MNCs    

Fifteen civil society organisations promoting human rights on Saturday accused the government of favoring multinational companies (MNCs) with tax rules. They also demanded stopping further extension of value added tax (VAT) net as planned for the upcoming budget as it is ‘regressive to poor’. taxThey came up with the demands at a rally in front of the National Press Club, said a media release. The 15 participating organisations are Arpon, Bangladesh Bhumihin Samity, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Coastal Development Partnership, Kishani Sava, Na...
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