The Bangladesh government has taken no significant steps to investigate and prosecute torture in custody and extra-judicial killings during 2011 and has shown an increasing intolerance for criticism, says Human Rights Watch.
The government also missed the chance to ensure trials that meet international standards for the country's independence-era atrocities, the New York-based rights watchdog said in its World Report 2012.
The 676-page report said HRW had found that there was a sharp increase in enforced disappearances, though the number of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) killings has dropped following domestic and international criticism.
The enforced disappearances led to concerns that security agencies have replaced one form of abuse with another, the report observed.
Despite pledges, the government took no action against Rab personnel for human rights violations. In fact, the government has refused to acknowledge violations and prosecute those responsible despite criticism from the National Human Rights Commission, the findings of independent home ministry investigations and lengthy reports from Human Rights Watch.
“The government of Sheikh Hasina has made repeated promises to end abuses and ensure justice and accountability, yet the security forces remain above the law,” said Brad Adams.
Bangladeshi human rights groups have documented nearly 1,600 extrajudicial killings since 2004. Many were disguised by law enforcement institutions as “crossfire killings.” The main unit responsible is the Rab, although that same culture of violations and impunity is infecting other security forces as members rotate back to their parent units in the police or intelligence departments, said HRW.
“Despite clear and voluminous evidence of Rab responsibility, the government has not held anyone in Rab accountable for the large numbers of extra-judicial killings,” Adams said.
Attempts by civil society during the year to document or denounce human rights violations at times resulted in harassment or torture, HRW said.
Supporters of high profile figures such as the Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus were threatened and intimidated and, in one case, beaten up. Trade union leaders remained under severe pressure and at risk of arbitrary arrests.
“In 2011, the government appeared to hunker down and assume dark motives when human rights concerns were raised, demonising critics instead of carefully considering their concerns,” said Adams, HRW's Asia director.
Some important amendments were made in June to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Rules of Procedure. However, these amendments did not address other important shortcomings in the rules, which include the need to repeal article 47(A) of the constitution, which denies fundamental rights under the constitution to individuals accused under the ICT Act. The provision even bars claims that article 47(A) is unconstitutional, the report said.
The report also accused the government of violating the right to a fair trial of the accused of 2009 Pilkhana mutiny and carnage.
Many of the 6,000 members of the BDR charged for the 2009 mutiny which led to a massacre of dozens of army officers have faced serious fair trial violations, Human Rights Watch said.
The report also criticised the government over the decades-long discrimination against women under personal status laws. The government fails to take adequate measures to protect women and girls from violence despite its steps to promote women's rights, making commendable progress in reducing infant and maternal mortality rates.