Human rights groups urge repeal of India emergency law to end protester's 10-year hunger fast

		Human rights organizations today submitted a petition to the government of India declaring their support for a 10-year hunger fast of a woman from Manipur in India against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sixty-two human rights organizations and 46 individuals signed the petition to mark the 10th anniversary on 2 November of the hunger strike of Irom Sharmila to protest against the continued imposition of the AFSPA in Manipur.

REPORT:Home Ministry Probe of Md. Mohiuddin Arif’s Death In RAB-Police Custody

People’s Republic of Bangladesh Government

Ministry of Home Affairs

Law Branch

Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka-1000

Investigation Report

Reference:

(1) The order of 09/03/2010 under the complaint no.89/09 of National Human Rights Commission, 6/3 Block-D, Lalmatia, Dhaka, based on the complaints of Asian Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and other international organisations working with issues of human rights.

Bangladesh: Monthly Human Rights Report (October 2010)

In October GHRD together with Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) investigated the case of a 15-year old Bangladeshi girl who – after being lured away with false promises by her tutor – was raped and beaten for almost a week. She was also subjected to village arbitration after the locality came to know about her love relationship with her tutor. In this month GHRD also investigated the attack against a Hindu Temple located in Chittagong District. BIHR along with GHRD investigated the attack against 46 indigenous families who were attacked by an armed group claiming to be supported by the ruling party Awami League at Naogaon District. In total 130-135 people were victimized in the Naogaon attacks.

NEWS:Training on Torture and Human Rights Organized by JusticeMakers Bangladesh

Training for the young professional on Torture and Human Rights has been held on September 23, 2010 at HRDP Training Centre at Khulna. Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) together with Human Rights Development Project (HRDP), Khulna organized the event. Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot, recipient of JusticeMakers fellowship-10, awarded by International Bridges to Justice, Switzerland and also executive Director of BIHR conducted the training session as trainer. Thirty young participants from difference professional of the different district across the southern part of the country attend the event to increase their capacity as well as their knowledge about the international human rights instruments available to them.

URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Politically motivated attack on indigenous people with the intention of land grabbing, looting valuable properties, destroying shelter.

Dear Friends,

Between the 9^th-11^th of October 2010, BIHR along with GHRD investigated the attack against 46 indigenous families who were attacked by an armed group claiming to be supported by the ruling party Awami League on the 23^rd of September, 2010 at Naogaon District. The perpetrators vandalized and destroyed houses, looted valuables and physically assaulted five men and a four-year old child. In total 130-135 people were victimized by the attacks.

URGENT APPEAL:Seeking justice through proper investigation regarding the incident of rape, traditional arbitration and extra judicial punishments of the indigenous child

Reff: UA /BIHR/FF/Dianjpur/19/10/10-36                                             October 19, 2010

To

Mrs. Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister

Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

Office of the Prime Minister

Tejgaon, Dhaka

BANGLADESH

Subject: Seeking justice through proper investigation regarding the incident of rape, traditional arbitration and extra judicial punishments of the indigenous child

Dear Sir,

Greetings from Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)

The Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), established on the realization of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has been dedicated to protect and promote human rights in Bangladesh from its inauguration.

FACT FINDING REPORT:Politically Motivated Attacked on Indigenous Community in Naogaon District.

The news headed “Attack on Indigenous People in Naogaon :'Land grabbers' still issuing threats: Two cases filed, none yet to be arrested” was published the daily Star on 30 September 2010. The news came to knowledge at the concern authority of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and a fact-finding mission has been conducted by a team of Bangladesh BIHR & GHRD comprising Md. Ehsanul Haque, Coordinator, TFT, Naogaon and Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot, Executive Director, BIHR from 9^th to 11^th October, 2010.

URGENT APPEAL: [Bangladesh]: a 15-year old Christian minority girl raped, abused and subjected to extra judicial punishment (village arbitration)

On the 2^nd and 3^rd September 2010, GHRD together with Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) investigated the case of a 15-year old Christian minority girl who suffered multiple violations including rape, beatings, threats as well as extra judicial punishments in a village arbitration.  Ostracised by her own community, she was lured away by two men to the capital where she was locked up, beaten and raped for almost a a week. 

ARTICLE: Death Reference Cases of is Highly Jam at Higher Court in Bangladesh

Shahanur Islam Saikot

LL.B(Hon's);LL.M(Law& Justice)

JusticeMakers Fellow-10

There are 534 cases of death reference under trial in High Court of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. These cases are waiting for final judgment after verdict of death sentence given by lower court due to lengthiness of judicial procedure. Though the many cases are prepared for hearing of death reference, due to various hidden causes it is not been possible to make hearing due to resulting jam of cases before the higher court which create unbearable suffering to the people. In spite of being speedy trial of sensitive cases in lower court, it becomes held up in higher court for judgment. The need would be to make speedy trial of these cases, with the increased bench of death confirmation in High Court.

URGENT ACTION: Death of a minority boy in prison due to torture by the policemen.

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Email: saikotbihr@gmail.com, www.bihr-bihr.blogspot.com

‡gvevt 01720308080, †dvbt 02 9349851, d¨v·t 02 8352166

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FACT FINDING REPORT:An Indigenous Community Child has been victimized in Gang Raped as well as having the Girl is Eexcommunicated by the Community People.

The news headed “An indigenous adolescent girl has been rapped alluring to give job at Ghoragha under Dinajpur district” was published the daily Karatoa on 27 august 2010. The news came to knowledge at the concern authority of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and a fact-finding mission has been conducted by a team of Bangladesh BIHR & GHRD comprising Adv. Rabindra Ghosh, GHRD, Dhaka; Gonesh Rajbongsi, Volunteer, GHRD, Dhaka; Rabindra Prasad Gupta, Volunteer, BIHR; Adv. Shahanur Islam, Executive Director, BIHR on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2010.

NEWS:Probe body hold first meeting on death of JASAS man in custody

A home ministry committee for probing the death of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha leader Amirul Islam Mintu in custody at its first meeting on Thursday discussed a complaint on the issue referred by the National Human Rights Commission.

‘We have discussed the complaint of a rights organisation referred to the home ministry by the National Human Rights Commission,’ a committee member told New Age after the meeting.

NEWS:Arrest warrant against four police officers

Reported by: UNBconnect
Reported on: September 22, 2010 22:52 PM
Reported in: National

 

Dhaka, Sep 22 (UNB)- The CMM court today ordered warrant of arrest against four former police officers of Ramna thana in a case that accused them of torturing a BCL leader in custody more than 6 years ago.

The accused are former OC Mahbubur Rahman, SIs Nair Ali and Rezaul Karim and police sergeant Anwar.

NEWS:Warrants issued for arrest of four policemen

Staff Correspondent 

A Dhaka court on Wednesday issued warrants for arrest of four police officers, including former Ramna police officer-in-charge Mahbubur Rahman, in connection with torturing a Chhatra League leader in custody to force ‘false admission’ in the case of attempt on the life of Dhaka University teacher Humayun Azad in 2004.

Metropolitan magistrate Mehedi Hasan Talukder passed the order after hearing an investigation report on a complaint filed with the Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate’s court on March 5, 2008 by Chhatra League leader Abu Abbas Bhuiyan accusing former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and the four policemen of torturing him in custody to force ‘false admission.’

রমনা থানার সাবেক ওসি সহ চার পুলিশের বিরুদ্ধে গ্রেফতারী পরোয়ানা "

রিমান্ডে নিয়ে স্বীকারোক্তি আদায়ের নামে নির্মম নির্যাতনের অভিযোগে রমনা থানার সাবেক ওসি মাহবুবুর রহমান, এস আই নাসের আলী, এস আই রেজাউল করিম ও সার্জেন্ট আনোয়ারের বিরুদ্ধে আজ গ্রেফতারী পরোয়ানা জারী হয়েছে। মহানগর হাকিম জনাব মেহেদি হাসান তালুকদার ঢাকা মহানগর গোয়েন্দা পুলিশ কর্তিক প্রদত্ত তদন্ত রিপোর্টের ভিত্তিতে মামলাটি আমলে নিয়ে এই আদেশ প্রদান করেন।

মামলার অভিযোগে জানা যায়, গত ২৭ ফেব্রয়ারী ২০০৪ ইং তারিখে  ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের বাংলা বিভাগের সম্মানিত শিক্ষক ডঃ হুমায়ূন আজাদের উপর সন্ত্রাসীদের হামলার প্রতিবাদে  গত ২৮ ফেব্রুয়ারী ২০০৪ ইং তারিখে ঢাকা বিশ্ব বিদ্যালয়ের সাধারণ ছাত্র-ছাত্রীদের ব্যানারে অনুষ্ঠিত মিছিল হতে ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে রাষ্ট্রবিজ্ঞান বিভাগের ছাত্র ও বাংলাদেশ ছাত্রলীগ কেন্দ্রীয় নির্বাহী সংসদের গণশিক্ষা বিষয়ক সম্পাদক মোঃ আবু আব্বাস ভুঁইয়াকে গ্রেফতার করে রমনা থানা্য় আটকনির্মম নির্যাতন করে। পরবর্তীতে ডঃ হুমায়ূন আজাদের উপর সন্ত্রাসী হামলা্য় মিথ্যেভাবে জড়িত করে ৫ দিনের রিমান্ডে নিয়ে স্বীকারোক্তি আদায়ের নামে গত ০২ মার্চ ২০০৪ তারিখ পর্যন্ত রমনা থানার তৎকালীন ভারপ্রাপ্ত কর্মকর্তা মাহবুবুর রহমানসহ উল্লেখিত পুলিশ সদস্যগন অমানবিক নির্যাতন করে তার বাম হাতের মধ্যাঙ্গুল ভেঙ্গে ফেলে। পরবর্তীতে তার অবস্থা খুব বেশী খারাপ হলে জেল হাজতে প্রেরণ করেন।

NEWS: NHRC asks govt to probe youth’s killing by BDR

Staff Correspondent

The National Human Rights Commission has asked the home ministry investigate the killing of a youth by the Bangladesh Rifles in Lalmonirhat on August 18.

The ministry was also asked to report to the commission by October 3 after inquiring the complaint filed by Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights on the basis of newspaper reports on the killing.

Bangladesh: Monthly Human Rights Report (August 2010) by GHRD

Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) Monthly Human Rights Report Bangladesh, August 2010 Introduction This month GHRD investigated human rights violations concerning police negligence, murder, looting and land grabbing, bribery and two religiously motivated attacks against minorities. Land grabbers attacked a 300-year old Hindu temple in Sutrapur, evicting 11 Hindu families. GHRD also investigated an attack against an Ahmediyya community in the Tangail District, alleged to have been agitated by the local Islamic extremist group Imam Parishad. The attacks received a lot of attention both by media and local human rights groups. On a positive note, the Office of the Prime Minister demanded the Home Ministry to ensure that a full investigation will be carried out into one of the kidnapping cases investigated by GHRD/BIHR in June. GHRD and BIHR welcome the initiative and will continue to monitor the implementation.

URGENT APPEAL:Bangladesh: Religiously motivated attack against a Hindu temple

The Hague, The Netherlands

URGENT APPEAL:Bangladesh: Religiously motivated attack against a Hindu temple.

                                                                                     

ISSUES:  Minority rights, physical assault, forced eviction, threats, religious destruction, police negligence, corruption.

Dear Friends,

Between the 19^th- 21^st of August 2010 GHRD Dhaka together with Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) investigated the attack against a Hindu temple at the Sutapur District. 11 families were forcefully evicted and another 20 families were threatened to leave their home immediately. One woman, Eva Ghosh was dragged by her hair.

General condition of the prisons in Bangladesh

SAIKOT SHAHANUR ISLAM

The prisoners of 56 prisons among 67 around the Bangladesh are deprived from health care and medical facility due to the absence of prison hospital. There is no availability of ambulance services. So, the severe patients of prisons are taken to the general hospital by the prison van for their treatment. The treatment activates have been closed due to lack of manpower and doctor of which 11 prisons using the hospital. There are 11 prisons using the hospital amongst 67 prisons around the country, but there are not enough doctors and manpower to provide service to the ill prisoners. The conditions of the sick prisoners are being deteriorated due to lack of clean water supply and proper sanitation. There are only 16 doctors for about one lac sick prisoner all over the country as well as no specialist amongst them. The treatment services for the sick prisoners are being hampered due to the lack prisons hospital availability in the 56 prisons. 

URGENT APPEAL: demands to rehabilitate them as well as make a credible investigation to bring the allege perpetrators before justice

BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME

URGENT APPEAL CASE: BIHR-IAU-30-08-10

DATE: August 30, 2010

Type of Violation: Right to shelter, religious activity, security, and personal integrity

Dear Friends

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a fact finding investigation report conducted by it high level investigation team from August 19-21, 2010 regarding some influential people of old Dhaka attempted to grab the old Hindu buildings including the temple, evicted some of the residing members, destroyed the temple and residences, looted the valuable statue of temple and property of the residing people as well as severely beat the males and molested the females. The victim urged the concerned police station to protect them, initially the police authority did not come to protect them. Though the victims demand to rehabilitate them as well as make a credible investigation to bring the allege perpetrators before justice, yet no proper action has been taken by the concern authority.

Appeal to US Secretary of State

Your Excellency Hillary Clinton

US Secretary of State

Washington DC, United States 

Dear Madam Secretary,

The verdict announced by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, rejecting the designation of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) as a terrorist group by the former Secretary of State, is a tremendous transition in the path of ending a great injustice which is harming the Iranian people and the residents of Camp Ashraf who are affiliated with the PMOI. We are confident that you will implement the Court of Appeals’ ruling and by delisting the PMOI from the List of FTO, make a great contribution to democracy in Iran and peace and stability in the region. 

The PMOI designation is not only used in the path of violating the rights of the members and supporters of the PMOI as the democratic opposition of the Iranian regime. It has also been exploited to justify the execution of their members and supporters inside Iran, and during the past seven years, this label has been a tool to suppress the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq. 

The recent US Court of Appeals’ ruling has paved the road for you to correct the mistakes made. 

There is no need to say that justice should not be conditioned to political considerations, and the interests of nations and free governments rests in observing democracy and the law. We hope that by ridding the injustice done to the PMOI, you will put an end to our grave worries. 

Yours Sincerely,

Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot 

LL.B (Hon's); LL.M (Law & Justice)

JusticeMakers Fellow 2010 

Secretary General/Executive Director

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)

Flat # B-17, 27, Bijoy Nagar, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh 

Email: saikotbihr@gmail.com, bihr.bd@gmail.com 

Cell: + 88 017 20308080, Ph: +88 02 9349851 

Fax: + 88 028352166, www.bihr-bihr.blogspot.com

URGENT APPEAL:Seeking justice through the proper investigation of the incident of beating by Parliament Member

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URGENT APPEAL:Seeking justice through the proper investigation of the incident of killing due to torture byBDR

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Letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Regarding the Harassment of Apparel Industry Demonstrators and Union Leaders

August 10, 2010

We are seeking your immediate intervention to stop the serious harassment of trade union leaders and other labor rights activists and workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry who have been pressing for the right of workers to organize in unions and seeking increases in Bangladesh's minimum wage regulations.

On July 29, 2010, after tripartite negotiations with government, workers, and employers, the government raised the daily minimum wage from 1662 taka to 3000 taka. However, the action angered workers who claimed the increase is less than the amount needed to meet the rising cost of living for urban-based workers and fell far short of the increase that the workers, trade unionists, and NGO activists were demanding. As has occurred numerous times in the history of Bangladesh's RMG industry, on July 30 and 31, worker anger and frustration boiled over into the streets, with roads being blocked, vandalism and attacks against factories and properties taking place, and use of force by police and security forces that resulted in scores of injuries among protesting workers. Human Rights Watch condemns instances of violence by the protesters as well as incidents where security forces may have used excessive force to quell the protests.

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT: Bangladesh: Monthly Human Rights Report (July 2010) by GHRD

Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) Monthly Human Rights Report Bangladesh, July 2010 GHRD is very concerned about the high number of attacks against religious minorities this month in Bangladesh, especially against Hindus. During July GHRD has investigated three cases involving attacks and assaults against Hindu victims. In addition to this local newspapers have also reported about several similar incidents. This month report also contains information about CHT. According to news reports several NGOs in the region are under the surveillance of the government. Additionally, the Chittagong Hills Tracts Commission recently sent out a memorandum to the Prime Minister regarding their concern about the attacks taking place in February of this year. Other updates from this month include a verdict made by the High Court that will declare extrajudicial punishments, such as fatwa, illegal. Additionally, following the High Court’s verdict in 2005 regarding the scrapping of the fifth amendment of the Bangladeshi constitution, the government are now preparing a draft to amend the Bangladeshi constitution in order to restore a constitutional spirit of "secularism" and "democracy”.

The State of Human Rights for the Month of July 2010

Ref: BIHR/HRR/07/08/2010                                                                Date: 02.08.10

The Law enforcing agencies is still continuing the extra judicial killing, torture and harassment, though the government has come to power promising to promote and protect human right in Bangladesh

(The State of Human Rights for the Month of July 2010)

The Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation registered with the Department of Social Welfare, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh based on the United Nation Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) dedicated to promote and protect human rights in Bangladesh. BIHR publishes its state of Human Rights for the period of July 01 to July 31, 2010. The report was prepared by the research and documentation cell of BIHR on the basis of report published on 12 national news papers from July 02 to August 01, 2010, fact-finding mission and its direct sources. BIHR is resents and is deeply concerned over the continuing human rights violations in Bangladesh despite the promises to promote human rights, especially in regards to Extra-judicial Killing, torture, political violence, death due to negligence of doctor, rape, eve teasing and molestation, minority repression as well as violence against journalist and human rights defender. Adv. Shahanur Islam, the Secretary General of BIHR asks the Government to take prompt and effective measures ensuring and end to all kinds of violations as well as demands to investigate and bring the alleged perpetrations before the book, forming a special commission.

Order issued by the National Human Rights Commission allegation recieved from BIHR Regarding to death under police custody at B Baria

Committee formed by Home Ministry to investigate the incident of killing under custody of Shahbag Police Station

URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Rape victim imprisoned in the name of ‘safe custody’ for a week [UA-BA-01.07.2010]

The Hague, The Netherlands URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Rape victim imprisoned in the name of ‘safe custody’ for a week [UA-BA-01.07.2010] ISSUES: Kidnapping, rape, lack of appropriate health services, arbitrary detention. Dear Friends, Between the 23rd of June until the 26th of June 2010 Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights together with GHRD investigated the abduction and rape of a 24 year old woman. After the woman was recovered she was imprisoned at the Rangpur Central Jail for eight days, in the name of ‘safe custody’.

Innitiative taken by the office of the Civil Surgeon after reciving Urgent Appeal issued by BIHR

Action taken by the office of the Prime Minister after reciving Urgent Appeal issued by BIHR

URGENT APPEAL:Seeking justice through the proper investigation of the incident of abduction and rape by the Jubo League cadre.

UA No. BIHR/Rangpur/02/06/2010                                                                     June 30, 2010

To.

Mrs. Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Prime Minister
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 811 3244 / 3243 / 1015 / 1490
Tel: +880 2 882 816 079 / 988 8677
E-mail: pm@pmo.gov.bd or ps1topm@pmo.gov.bd or psecy@pmo.gov.bd

Subject: Seeking justice through the proper investigation of the incident of abduction and rape by the Jubo League cadre.

STATEMENT: Published in the Daily Star on 24 June, 2010

NEWS: Shahanur Islam - Bangladesh

See Shahanur's application to the 2010 JusticeMakers Competition.

Growing up and working for human rights in Bangladesh, Shahanur noticed that people often become victims of their own ignorance and lack of resources vis-à-vis the criminal justice system.

Shahanur holds a Masters in Laws (LL.M) with a focus on human rights law, and has about ten years experience working in the fields of human rights, peace advocacy, criminal justice and good governance.  His experiences gave him technical and managerial skills covering a wide range of development areas, including designing and implementing projects related to human rights, criminal justice, peace and good governance; providing legal support and counseling to victims of violence (focusing on ethnic and religious minority women and children); initiating and carrying out projects to strengthen local government; networking with different NGO’s; facilitating trainings, seminars, and workshops on human rights issues as a trainer and moderator; and lobbying at both the national and international levels. Shahanur also has experience providing direct legal support to the Bangladesh Court for Criminal Justice, and is currently the Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR).

STATEMENT: Bangladesh: Security forces used excessive force during raid

1 July 2010

Bangladesh: Security forces used excessive force during raid

Bangladeshi security forces used excessive force during a raid on the house of a senior opposition politician on 27 June, Amnesty International said today.

The Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) carried out a violent attack on those gathered peacefully inside the house of Mirza Abbas, a leading Bangladesh National Party (BNP) politician and former mayor of Dhaka, according to testimony given to Amnesty International.

Victims of the raid described sustained and unprovoked beatings of activists and Mirza Abbas’ family members, denial of medical treatment after arrests, and the eliciting of signatures on blank forms as a condition of release, which Amnesty International suspects are for the purpose of falsifying confessions.

HUMAN RITHS REPORT: For the month of June 2010

Ref: BIHR/HRR/06/07/2010                                                                  Date: 02.07.10

Despite of promising to promote and protect human right in Bangladesh, it is widespread across the country

(The State of Human Rights for the Month of June 2010)

The Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation registered with the Department of Social Welfare, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh based on the United Nation Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) dedicated to promote and protect human rights in Bangladesh. BIHR publishes its state of Human Rights for the period of June 01 to June 30, 2010. The report was prepared by the research and documentation cell of BIHR on the basis of report published on 12 national news papers from June 02 to July 01, 2010, fact-finding mission and its direct sources. BIHR is resents and is deeply concerned over the continuing human rights violations in Bangladesh despite the promises to promote human rights, especially in regards to Extra-judicial Killing. Adv. Shahanur Islam, the Secretary General of BIHR asks the Government to take prompt and effective measures ensuring and end to all kinds of violations as well as demands to investigate and bring the alleged perpetrations before the book, forming a special commission.

URGENT APPEAL:Seeking justice through the proper investigation on the incident of killing due to torture

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URGENT APPEAL:Seeking justice through the proper investigation on the incident of abduction and rape by the Jubo League cadre

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