RIGHTS groups have, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day observed on December 10, expressed serious concern about the indiscriminate human rights violation in Bangladesh and termed the government’s commitment in this regard as superficial. They say that the targeted arrest and harassment of political opposition and dissenting voices have become the norm in recent years. The police on December 1 launched a nationwide drive to ensure an unhindered celebration of Victory Day and since then, as the police say, at least 6,200 people have been arrested. The arrested include more than 2,000 were leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Since July, when the opposition party began its divisional rallies protesting at price increase, energy crisis and rights abuse, seven BNP men have been killed. In March, the leaders and supporters of left-leaning political parties faced similar police brutality during their protests at soaring prices. It is in this context, the United Nations special rapporteurs for peaceful assembly has recently urged the government to refrain from using excessive force against protesters and protect the universally guaranteed rights of people. The government, however, maintains its denial and repeats its rhetorical commitment to rights.

Rights violations at the hands of law enforcers have increased after a brief pause after the United States sanction on the Rapid Action Battalion and some of its serving and former officials in December 2021. Odhikar, meanwhile, says that two people were killed in alleged ‘gunfight’ with the Rapid Action Battalion, two others were tortured to death and one was shot dead by the police in April–June.  In the period, five people allegedly disappeared after being picked up by men claiming to be law enforcers. They were later either produced in court or found alive under questionable circumstances. In all cases of extrajudicial killing and custodial torture, internal investigations were initiated, but the outcome and consequent actions remain unknown. In response to the international call to investigate enforced disappearances allegations, the government has insisted that certain quarters use the term to malign the government. The government appears to be slowly returning to its habitual indifference to issues of rights and their violation by law enforcers.

It is time that the government meaningfully responded to national and international concerns regarding grave allegations of the targeted arrest of political opposition, torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing. In doing so, it should immediately initiate credible investigation of the allegations of all cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killing and custodial deaths. It must seriously and urgently consider the possibility of forming a credible, independent commission to investigate cases of the abuse of power by law enforcers. The government must acknowledge that denial of rights abuse will in no way improve Bangladesh’s image to the outside world.