A report by the United States Department of State has stated that there has been no significant change in the human rights situation in Bangladesh.
This information was mentioned in the global human rights report published by the US State Department on Monday (April 22).
The report highlights the human rights situation of various countries including Bangladesh in 2023. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken released the report at a press conference.
According to the report, there are several credible reports of human rights violations in Bangladesh last year. These include extrajudicial killings, disappearances, government torture or cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions.
In addition, arbitrary arrests or detentions, serious problems with the independence of the judiciary, political and other prisoners, violence and arbitrary arrests of journalists, the use of criminal defamation laws to limit expression, and serious restrictions on freedom of the media and internet are mentioned.
There have been numerous reports of widespread impunity for human rights violations. In most cases the government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or members of the security forces who committed human rights violations.
The report cites significant interference with freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association as a human rights issue in Bangladesh.
In addition, restrictions on freedom of movement including legislation severely limiting opportunities to organize, finance or operate private and civil society organizations; The report highlighted the inability of citizens to peacefully change the government through free and fair elections.
The report cites severe and arbitrary restrictions on political participation, massive corruption in the public sector, and severe restrictions on domestic and international human rights organizations as problems.
The report highlights information on child marriage, gender-based violence, sexual violence, violence against minorities. It also noted significant restrictions on the freedom of association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, trade unions and workers.
