ASK: More than 1 extra-judicial killing every day

ASK: More than 1 extra-judicial killing every day

  • Dhaka Tribune July 1st, 2019
Ain O Salish Kendra

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ASK collected the data from nine national dailies, and from their own findings during the period

At least 204 people became victims of extrajudicial killings at the hands of law enforcement agencies across the Bangladesh, during the first six months of 2019, human rights watchdog in O Salish Kendra (ASK) has said in their latest report.

On an average for this year, every day more than one person fall victim to “extra-judicial killings” by law enforcers, the report published on Monday said.

According to the press release issued by ASK on Monday afternoon, among the victims of “extrajudicial killings”, 59 were killed in ‘crossfire’ with RAB, 92 were killed in crossfire with police, while 12 others were killed at the hands of Detective Branch of police, one with joint forces, one with Coast Guard, and 28 with Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB).

ASK collected the data from nine national dailies, and from their own findings during the period.

The report said, two of the victims were killed due to torture when they were under police custody, while one committed suicide in police custody, another died from illness in RAB custody.

735 women raped, attempted to rape

Some 735 women were subjected to rape or attempt to rape in first six months of this year, said the report. 630 women were raped, and 105 attempts to rape were reported during the time.

Data shows, at least 37 victims were killed after rape. Seven victims committed suicide after being raped. At the same time one woman committed suicide following attempted rape, and two others tried to commit suicide.

At least 37 minors killed every month

The ASK report depicted a horrific picture of deaths to minors, where at least 37 children were killed every month.

ASK collected information of killings of 203 children, during the time. Of them, 94 of the children killed are between the ages of 13 to18 years.

At least 37 of the deaths are found to be mysterious, the report said.

Some 692 other children were tortured during the period, while 15 boys, and 393 girls fell victim to rape, and 86 girls were victims of attempt to rape.

During the time, 73 children were sexually harassed by their teachers, the report said.

Incidents of mob lynching on the rise 

The report illustrated another terrifying data that showed some 36 lynching incidents took place during the first six months of the year.

The number of mob lynching incidents in 2018 was 39.

On an average, the country experienced more than three incidents of mob lynching in a month. The country has already experienced more than six mob lynching incidents, almost double than that of the previous year, in terms of a month.