UK worried over rising extremist attacks
The United Kingdom has expressed concern over the rise of extremist attacks on secular writers and religious minorities in Bangladesh and urged the government to ensure protection of life from the extremist attacks.
“Extremist attacks on minority groups and threats against secular bloggers continued. In addition to extremist attacks on Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, 2016 has also seen an increase of wider intolerance towards minority religions,” according to a UK government report released on July 21.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its report "People's Republic of Bangladesh - Human Rights Priority Country" on that day.
It also said there was no improvement in the human rights situation in Bangladesh in the first six months of 2016.
The report said the UK continues to support and promote freedom of expression and protection for those who exercise it in Bangladesh, including through a new programme funded by the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy.
The British High Commission is also working closely with international partners in Bangladesh to support those under threat from extremist attacks, such as providing information on help available from local, regional and international non-governmental organisations.
“We continue to urge the government of Bangladesh to ensure that those carrying out extremist attacks are held to account, that life is protected and that the right to justice and free speech for all Bangladeshis is upheld,” it said.
Mentioning about the municipal elections, which ended in May and were held on party lines for the first time, it said the polls saw significant levels of violence in which 116 people were reportedly killed.
“Looking ahead to the second half of 2016, we want Bangladesh to develop into an economically successful country that maintains its Bengali tradition of respect and tolerance for all people of all faiths and backgrounds.
"We also continue to be clear that an effective justice system, vibrant civil society, free media and freedom to hold authority to account remain important as Bangladesh heads towards middle-income status, and fully graduates from least developed country status,” said the UK's updated report.
It said the Supreme Court delivered a number of judgments on orders upholding the rights of the citizens.
Reports of excessive use of force, extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances by law enforcement agencies continued.
NGOs called for the repeal of “vague and overly broad” sedition laws in Bangladesh when over 50 private criminal charges, for sedition and defamation, were brought against editors of two of Bangladesh's largest media outlets, the report said.
Charges brought against newspaper editors, even if eventually dismissed by the courts, can be a form of harassment and intimidation.
Proposed new laws such as the Bangladesh Liberation War (Denial, Distortion, Opposition) Crime Law and the Digital Security Act have the potential to further squeeze free speech in Bangladesh, the report added.
Gender-based violence and sexual assault remain common.
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