By R. Chowdhury
The US State Department published its annual Country Report on the Human Rights Practices in Bangladesh on April 22, 2024. It recounted the political situation in 2023 at length, citing individual cases of serious wrongdoings.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, as usual, dismissed the report to be based on “unfounded allegations.”
Deplorable Human Rights
The country report observed that the democratic and human rights situation in the country had remained as deplorable as in previous years under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who continued her authoritarian rule since January 2009.
The report noted that the Hasina “government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or security force members who may have committed human rights abuses.” Arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture continued with total impunity. Many detainees were held without due process of law or access to legal representation. The constitutional provision and procedure, particularly with regard to individual rights, were trampled during such activities. Most victims were members of political opposition and dissidents.
Compromised Judiciary
The report rightly observed that the regime “compromised the independence of the judicial system in Bangladesh.” Courts were susceptible to influence from “political patronage networks, especially in cases involving opposition party supporters,” the report cited. In fact, the judiciary like all other branches of the government–the administration, police, military and legislature–continued to be used as compliant partners in the undemocratic repressive activities of the regime.
The State Department report also provided a backlog of the pending cases, which kept the defendants suffering in custody for more periods than the maximum sentence for the crime they allegedly committed. In the top courts, while 500,000 cases were pending, 90,000 new cases were filed annually. Access to legal representation and affordability, coupled with existing complexities of legal aid services, make the situation worse for most defendants.
Zia Prosecuted, Hasina Exonerated
The report observed flaws in the prosecution of Begum Khaleda Zia, the long and seriously ailing leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), citing domestic and international legal experts who “noted lack of evidence to support the conviction.” She had been repeatedly denied to seek improved medical treatment abroad. Analysts suggested it to be “a political ploy to remove the leader of the opposition from the electoral process.” At the same time, they noted that “multiple corruption charges against prime minister Hasina were dropped by prosecutors,” at least one of them being murder charge.
No Freedom of Expression
The report also noted extreme restrictions on freedom of expression that included the media. With slightest criticism of the government and the ruling class, its policy and corruption, people, including minors, continued to become victims of the detested Digital Security Act (DSA). In the name of Cyber Security Act (CSA), relevant international law was misused to penalize dissidents. The regime also employed “transnational repression tactics”, and “bilateral pressure tactics to coerce foreign governments,” to retaliate members of the diaspora.
Regional Security Threat
As per observation of the report, Bangladesh is virtually heading towards an explosive situation due to the “illegality” of the regime, its repeated election frauds, unprecedented corruption, financial chaos and intolerance to political opposition, among others. The situation poses a serious threat not only to the country’s stability and viability but also a security threat to the region.
Unicef Report
Additionally, according to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) report for 2023, Bangladesh was seriously suffering to combat “economic risks.” The report assigned the reasons to low foreign currency reserves, depreciated local currency resulting in high inflation, reduced overseas remittances, low export earnings, and diminished foreign direct investment. The situation was further complicated by growing debt obligations. All these factors not only risked investment in children, but also seriously impacted budget allocations for health, education, and social sectors.
US Commitment and Sanctions
Specifically, the report cited serious flaws in the electoral system, which was designed by the regime to stay in power for perpetuity. All the national elections under the regime in 2014, 2018 and 2024 were totally fraudulent and non-participatory. Even the election in December 2008 was said to be rigged by vested quarters to install Hasina in power. Nearly 6000 elections at local levels faced similar fate over the past 15 years.
Consequent upon President Joe Biden’s commitment for human rights, democracy, fighting corruption and authoritarianism, as well as ensuring election integrity as the US’ core foreign policy objectives, the US administration imposed sanctions in 2021 against the Bangladesh’s draconian Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its top officials for serious human rights violations, later disallowed the country to join its two Democracy Summits, and in 2023 declared Visa Restrictions against election criminals. All these were seen as steps in the right direction, and greatly appreciated by a vast majority of the 180 million people. The State Department and its Ambassador Peter D Haas continued to reiterate their commitments and insisted on a credible and participatory election next in Bangladesh. The people looked forward to a free, fair and participatory election in January 2024. Unfortunately, that was not to be.
October 30 Tragedy and the Silence!
For unexplained reasons, the US led West went on a silent mode and the fascist regime had a field day on October 28, 2023, when it brutally demolished the peaceful opposition rallies in Dhaka, killing and wounding thousands. Jail houses became crammed five times their capacities with opposition members, while millions of others kept hiding from the marauding fascist forces. A “Dummy Election” was staged on January 7, 2024, which was boycotted by the largest BNP, the Jamaat-e-Islami, and 62 other parties. Enforced and coerced voter participation was 5-10% that included some minors. The US and others slowly returned to support the “new administration,” some, however, voiced a non-consequential opinion that the election was “not free and fair.” They remained totally silent on their “silence,” or on their earlier commitments on fair election. The Country Report also preferred to remain quiet on this mysterious but crucial turn of events in Bangladesh that definitely will continue to have a lasting negative impact not only on the human rights and democracy situation in the country, but also its future and regional security.
No Double Standard!
In response to a question during the publishing ceremony on April 22 2024, Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied that the US had a double standard with Israel. “As this report makes clear, we apply the same standard to everyone, and that doesn’t change whether the country in question is an adversary, competitor, a friend or an ally.” We sincerely hope so, and would like to see its universal application.
