Says 150 protesters killed since February
This May 5 photo shows Hefajat-e Islam activists hurling brick chips at police as they ran amok at the heart of the capital shortly before their rally on the day.
Hefajat-e Islam and BNP’s claim that law enforcers had killed hundreds of people during the May 5 Hefajat rally in the capital is baseless, says a Human Rights Watch report today.
In the report titled “Blood on the streets: The use of excessive force during Bangladesh protests“, the New York-based rights organisation said, “Human Rights Watch found no evidence to support the numbers [of death] claimed by the opposition and Hefajat leaders.”
The 48-page report referred to the period between February and early May this year.
Hefajat leaders had claimed that the security forces on May 5 killed around 2,000 to 3,500 people and dumped the bodies outside the capital using garbage trucks, while some BNP leaders called the incident “genocide”.
The government had termed the claims “grossly fabricated”.
However, the evidence obtained by HRW suggests that the security forces committed serious human rights abuses and that some people were killed during the early hours of May 6.
It also said, “There is strong evidence to dispute the government assertion of a disciplined operation. Journalists and protestors who witnessed the event told Human Rights Watch that on several occasions the security forces opened fire at close range even after unarmed protestors had surrendered.”
In total, based on hospital logs, eyewitness accounts, and well-sourced media reports, HRW believes that at least 58 people died, seven of whom were the members of security forces, on May 5 and 6.
The rights body also mentioned that the demonstrations centring a verdict of International Crimes Tribunal that awarded death sentence to Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee resulted in dozens of deaths of protesters, bystanders, and police officers in February.
It claims that the security forces frequently used excessive force in responding to street protests, killing at least 150 protesters and injuring at least 2,000 more since February.
HRW urges the government to establish an impartial, transparent, and independent commission to investigate the large number of deaths and injuries that occurred in connection with protests between February and early May 2013.
It also expressed concerns over the incidents of disappearances, arrest of four bloggers, and action against the opposition media.
The rights organisation also asked the opposition parties to take steps to deter their supporters from carrying out unlawful acts, including physical attacks on law enforcers and people with different political views.
It also recommends protecting children from taking part in political activities. At the same time it advises the government to order law enforcers to follow the United Nations Basic Principles on the use of force and firearms.
Source: The Daily Star
