Joint Oral Statement delivered at the 24th session of the Human Rights Council under Item 6: Bangladesh UPR Report consideration

24th session

Item 6: Bangladesh UPR Report consideration

Joint oral intervention delivered by the World Organisation AgainstTorture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in theframework of their joint programme, the Observatory for the Protection of HumanRights Defenders

September 20, 2013

Check against delivery

Mr. President,

OMCT and FIDH, within the Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, welcome the pledges of the Government of Bangladesh to support mostof the UPR recommendations, including those on the investigation of allegationsof human rights violations by security forces and the prosecution of theirperpetrators; and on the protection of human rights defenders and the guaranteethat they are allowed to work without hindrance, intimidation or harassment.

However, OMCT and FIDH express their deep concern about the crackdown oncritical voices in the country, including human rights defenders, who arejudicially harassed, threatened or even killed, as was the case of labourleader Aminul Islam in April 2012, whose murderers have still not beenidentified.

Our organisations denounce in particular the current harassment againstOdhikar, a prominent human rights NGO that has been under constant watch by theGovernment since its inception. Since August 10, 2013, Mr. Adilur RahmanKhan, Secretary of Odhikar and a member of OMCT General Assembly, isarbitrarily detained, in relation to a fact-finding reportissued by Odhikar on thekilling of 61 people during an operation by security forces against Hefazat-e Islam activistsin Dhaka.A charge sheet wassubsequently filed against Mr. Khan as well as against Odhikar's Director Mr. Nasiruddin Elan for “distorting images” and “publishing afabricated report”, under Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act, in relation toOdhikar’s report. An arrest warrant was issued against Mr. Elan. Mr. Khan’s trial was scheduled to start yesterday with the framing ofcharges, but as a Prosecutor had not yet been appointed, the Tribunal reportedthe hearing to September 25, 2013.

The judicial harassment against Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan and Mr. Nasiruddin Elan merely aims at intimidating andsilencing them, Odhikar and more generally any critics of the Government. Wecall upon the Government of Bangladesh to release Mr. Khan immediately and unconditionally as his detention isarbitrary, and to put an end to the harassment against Odhikar.

Mr. President,

Our organisations also regret that the Government of Bangladesh did notsupport the recommendation calling for an independent and impartial commissionof inquiry on alleged cases of forced disappearances or extrajudicialexecutions.

OMCT and FIDH finally urge the Government of Bangladesh to extend aninvitation to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Situation of Human RightsDefenders and on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, who have bothrequested a country visit.

Thank you Mr. President.