Governance
Says Odhikar report

A total of 96 people were killed and 1,93,329 arrested by different law enforcement agencies since the state of emergency was declared 130 days ago, says a report by Odhikar, a human rights watchdog.

Of the dead, 54 were killed by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), 25 by police, seven by joint forces, six by army, three by navy and one by narcotics control department men. The report revealed that Rab killed 51 people in ‘crossfire’ while 12 by police and one by the joint forces. Odhikar demanded investigation into ’extra judicial killings’ so that the persons involved in those could be brought to justice. They also demanded to make the investigation report public.

According to the report, 17 people were killed in torture by different law enforcement agencies. The dead included 39 activists of different political parties including eight from BNP, four from Awami League, six from Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Janajuddho), four from Purbo Banglar Communist Party, four from Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Red Flag), and two from Biplobi Communist Party. The list of dead also includes a housewife, a female garment worker, a freedom fighter, an indigenous leader, three farmers, a businessman, a police informer and two bus drivers.

Odhikar also expressed grave concern over non-payment of wages to garment workers across the country and jute mill workers at Khalishpur in Khulna. The human rights watchdog condemned police action on workers’ demonstration for their arrears and demanded immediate release of the arrested workers and withdrawal of cases filed against them.
Source: The Daily Star (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)