Bangladesh’s security forces have killed more than 1,000 people in extrajudicial slayings during the past five years, an international human rights group said in a report released yesterday.
Human Rights Watch called for the government to investigate the deaths and bring those responsible to justice.
“If you are a soldier, a member of the Rapid Action Battalion or the intelligence services, or a police officer, you can get away with murder in Bangladesh,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
The security forces break the law “in the gravest manner without ever facing any consequences,” Adams said.
New York-based Human Rights Watch released a report yesterday titled Ignoring Executions and Torture: Impunity for Bangladesh’s Security Forces.
Faruk Khan, a senior member of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Cabinet, said the government did not support extrajudicial killings and would investigate the allegations.
“The government is determined to prevent such incidents,” said Khan, a former army officer. “If anyone is found guilty of such killing, proper action will be taken.”
Crime suspects in Bangladesh are often killed while in custody in incidents authorities usually describe as “crossfire.” Local watchdogs say the shootouts are staged and amount to little more than executions.
Odhikar, a Bangladeshi rights group, says 14 people have been killed while in custody so far this year, according to a tally gleaned from media reports.
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