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.