No end to ‘gunfights’

Incidents of so-called "gunfights" between law enforcement agencies and alleged criminals have continued unabated across the country even during the Covid-19 outbreak, according to reports by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and Dhaka University's Centre for Genocide Studies (CGS).

Besides, there has been no let-up in violence against women and children, the reports added.

67 KILLED IN 3 MONTHS: ASK

The human rights watchdog in its recent report said at least 67 persons were killed in "gunfights" last three months.

In May, the figure was 27. It was 15 in April and 25 in March while 109 persons were killed in "shootouts" with law enforcement agencies in the first five months of this year.

Of them, 48 were killed by police, 37 by Rapid Action Battalion, 14 by Border Guard Bangladesh and 10 by Detective Branch of police.

The law enforcement agencies, however, have maintained their defense of these deaths, saying they fired in retaliation to armed ambush.

ASK said apart from people killed in "gunfights", 21 others were killed either in shootings, torture or in custody.

ASK prepared the statistics based on media reports and information collected by the organisation.

The death of 55-year-old Shanu Hawlader in the custody of Amtali Police Station in Barguna and 40-year-old Yasmin Begum in the custody of detective branch of Gazipur police created sensation during the period examined.

ASK said many journalists among other professionals were harassed in this period. At least 127 incidents of harassment on journalists took place at this time. Of them, 20 were harassed by the law enforcement agencies and 14 received threats from the ruling party members or its affiliates. Apart from that, 49 journalists were sued for their published reports.

Besides, 244 women were raped, of whom 71 were gang-raped, and 24 were killed after rape. Six rape victims also died by suicide in the last five months.

At least 182 women faced domestic violence and of them 54 were tortured to death by their husbands while 25 died by suicide, it said, adding that at least 62 women were harassed sexually.

119 EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS IN 5 MONTHS: GGS

Some 119 people have become victims of extra-judicial killings between January and May. Incidents of "gunfight" dropped by 36 percent since March 20, amid coronavirus outbreak, the report said.

Of the deaths, 108 died during "gunfights" between law enforcement agencies and criminals while 11 died during "gunfights" between two groups of criminals, it said. The report said 114 people sustained injury during gunfights while 18 were arrested by law enforcers. A total of 98 gunfights took place since January, it added.

CGS shared the report styled "Peacegraphics" in the form of an e-newsletter with the media yesterday. Bangladesh Peace Observatory, an initiative of CGS, prepared it based on news published in 18 national and local dailies.

According to the report, 20 deaths have been reported while 18 others were injured in incidents related to border issue until May 31. Also, 107 people were arrested while 53 border-related incidents took place. Border-related incidents dropped by 82 percent since March 20.

It said 19 incidents of violence against minorities took place between January and May. Also, 42 people sustained injury and five were arrested in connection with violence against minorities.

Since January, 52 Rohingya community people died, 59 were injured and 549 got arrested.

In mob violence between January and May, 22 people died and 89 were injured. A total of 66 such incidents took place while 103 were arrested.

Besides, 116 incidents of abduction took place while 25 people died, 56 were injured and 127 got arrested by law enforcers.

The report said the country saw a 10 percent rise in domestic violence since March 20, amid shutdown. Since January, a total of 194 domestic violence incidents took place, resulting in 157 deaths, 64 injuries and 85 arrests.

Besides, 558 incidents of violence against children were reported between January and May. The incidents saw 258 deaths, 257 sexual assaults involving children, 246 injury and 339 arrests.

The report also mentioned 389 incidents of sexual assault and 46 incidents of "violent extremism".