ALRC-CWS-26-06-2014 June 2, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Judiciary undermines its own independence 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring the status of the judiciary and legal profession of Bangladesh to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council. 2. Bangladesh has been Member of the Human Rights Council virtually since its formation. The country has been party to two international Covenants and eight Conventions. Being a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Bangladesh is obliged to ensure the […]
Category: Bangladesh
BANGLADESH: Enforced disappearances are increasing alarmingly
ALRC-CWS-25-16-2014 February 28, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 4, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Enforced disappearances are increasing alarmingly 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is gravely concerned by the ongoing pattern of deprivation of the right to life through enforced disappearance and killing in the pretext of “crossfire” in Bangladesh. Simultaneously, there are also incidents of “secret killings” of disappeared persons. The number of enforced disappearance has been increasing alarmingly in the recent months in the country. The majority of the victims are identified as activists of the pro-opposition political parties. […]
BANGLADESH: Human Rights activism at serious risk
ALRC-CWS-25-08-2014 February 24, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Human Rights activism at serious risk 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring the situation of human rights defenders of Bangladesh to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council. The Government of Bangladesh has been denying opportunity for the human rights activism in the country. Systematic denial of the rights to defend human rights continues to silence constructively critical voices. As a result, the Human Rights Defenders of Bangladesh are in serious danger at this […]
BANGLADESH: Endemic torture continues despite enactment of anti-torture law
ALRC-CWS-25-03-2014 February 20, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: Endemic torture continues despite enactment of anti-torture law 1. It is not new to the international community that torture is endemic in Bangladesh. It may be surprising to know that torture has been finally criminalized there. On 24 October 2013 the Torture and Custodial Death (Prohibition) Bill, 2013, was enacted by the parliament. The people of Bangladesh achieved this law at the costs of a very high price for decades. Hundreds of people had been tortured to death since […]
BANGLADESH: New book “Human Rights and Governance: Bangladesh” released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE ALRC-PRL-004-2013 A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BANGLADESH: New book “Human Rights and Governance: Bangladesh” released (Hong Kong, November 6, 2013): The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) has published a new book titled, “Human Rights and Governance: Bangladesh” edited by Md Shariful Islam, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Dhaka, and contributed by eleven authors, including the editor, in nine chapters. The edited volume is an outcome of an ALRC project titled, “Corruption, Torture and Extrajudicial Killing in BANGLADESH: Examining the Role of State Institutions” that took place mostly between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. As the […]
BANGLADESH: Space for fundamental freedoms almost non-existent
Note: This statement was not delivered at the Council due to the lack of time. However, we wish to share this statement with you and provide below the link to the webcast on the UPR report consideration on Bangladesh for your information. Date: September 20, 2013 Document id: ALRC-COS-24-10-2013 HRC section: Item 6, General Debate An Oral Statement to the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status BANGLADESH: Space for fundamental freedoms almost non-existent Thank you Mr. President, The human rights situation in Bangladesh has suffered the worst during the past four years. The government’s […]
BANGLADESH: State abuses UPR process due to lack of enforceability of UN human rights machinery
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2013 ALRC-CWS-24-04-2013 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty-fourth session, Agenda Item 6, General Debate Joint written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status, together with Odhikar in Bangladesh BANGLADESH: State abuses UPR process due to lack of enforceability of UN human rights machinery 1. In the UN Universal Periodic Review, Bangladesh has successfully abused the UPR Process, courtesy weakness in the enforcement of UN Human Rights machinery. 2. At the UN Human Rights Council’s UPR process on 29 April 2013, during the 16th Session of the UPR Working Group in Geneva, Bangladesh’s human rights record […]
BANGLADESH: Rights groups urge the international community to make UPR a meaningful process
(Dhaka/Hong Kong: 17 February 2013): After a series of consultations held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Odhikar has urged the international community to participate in their fullest during the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Bangladesh. The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva will hold the UPR in April, this year. The participants discussed key issues concerning democracy, rule of law and fundamental human rights in Bangladesh that should be reviewed in the UPR. The participants reviewed documents, including the state party report filed in advance to the UPR. Reiterating the importance of the UPR, the participants agreed that the process could be made more […]
BANGLADESH: Government lacks ‘political will’ to legislate anti-torture bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2013 ALRC-CWS-22-01-2013 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty second session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Torture A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status BANGLADESH: Government lacks ‘political will’ to legislate anti-torture bill 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) once again reiterates the urgent need of criminalisation of torture in Bangladesh where torture is an endemic problem. Torture has been inseparable and deeply entrenched within the law-enforcement and investigation systems of the government. Visibility must be the responsibility of the UN Human Rights Council toward its long-standing member-State. Bangladesh […]
BANGLADESH: Failure to prevent disappearance is injustice to families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2013 ALRC-CWS-22-04-2013 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty second session, Agenda Item 3, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status BANGLADESH: Failure to prevent disappearance is injustice to families 1. Bangladesh is a member of the Human Rights Council since 2006. In the voluntary pledges made by Bangladesh, it has asserted that “[a]t the national level, Bangladesh, a democratic and pluralistic polity, is fully committed to the principles of good governance, democracy, rule of law and promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedom of […]