Pressure on free speech increased

Britain yesterday said there was no improvement in the overall human rights situation in Bangladesh last year.

In its annual human rights report for 2015, the UK expressed dismay at the rise of attacks on secularist writers and religious minorities, and increased pressure on freedom of speech.

“A rise in the number of extremist attacks against secularist writers and religious minorities during 2015 increased pressure on free speech, while the draft Foreign Donations Act risks becoming a missed opportunity to improve the regulatory regime for NGOs.”

The report released by the foreign office listed 30 nations, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Russia as “human rights priority countries” where it plans to “prioritise engagement”.

The countries were chosen using the human rights situation, their human rights trajectory, and Britain's ability to influence change.

An overloaded justice system and delays in processing through the courts contributed to a culture of violence in Bangladesh where people take the law into their own hands, according to the report.

It said NGOs reported that excessive use of force, extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances were conducted with impunity, while the death penalty remained a legal punishment for a wide range of offences. 

Last year, at least five people were executed, including three war criminals convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

About the unresolved political tension between the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP, the report said the confrontational actions during the first quarter of 2015, including the arrest of senior BNP leaders, an indefinite BNP-led transport blockade, and repeated hartals impacted on people's security and livelihoods.

The report lauded women's considerable contribution to the Bangladesh economy. It however said women still do not enjoy the same social status as men, and gender-based violence remains a substantial problem. Child marriage also remains a significant concern.

Bangladesh has a growing economy and aspires to reach middle-income status by 2021, the report pointed out. “We encourage the Bangladesh authorities to ensure that this is matched by a positive human rights trajectory during 2016 and beyond.”

The UK, said the report, remains clear that an effective justice system, and a vibrant civil society and free media, able to challenge and hold authority to account, are fundamental to a successful democracy. 

“Free, fair and participatory elections are also crucial; we encourage all political parties to work towards achieving this at the parliamentary elections in 2019.”

About the global rights situation, the report said despite progress achieved at the UN level and elsewhere, significant challenges remained, including ending the many forms of violence against women, securing sexual health and reproductive rights, achieving gender equality at the workplace and in political and public life, and women's economic empowerment and equal access to education.