Not withstanding an entrenched constitutional commitment and our obligations under international laws and treaties, human rights continue to be drastically violated in Bangladesh. During the Corona pandemic in 2020, Bangladesh's overall human rights situation was frightening. Reviewing the annual human rights situation of Bangladesh in 2020, this year also saw extrajudicial killings, torture in custody, unlawful activities by the members of law enforcement agencies, enforced disappearances and murders in the course of mass beatings. Political violence, arrests and attacks on journalists, killing and torture of innocent Bangladeshis by BSF at the border areas and violence against women, especially rape and domestic violence have increased alarmingly amid the pandemic. The report shows that in 2020, the overall human rights condition of Bangladesh deteriorated significantly with increasing restrictions on freedom of expression, the arrest and harassment of journalists, human rights activists and dissidents through misuse of  the Digital Security Act, 2018 and clamp downs on political and civil rights. Regarding the nature of the report, mixed methodologies have been applied and both primary and secondary sources used to derive data.

According to HRSS investigation team and collected information from different newspapers in 2020, a total of 244 persons were reportedly extra-judicially killed. Of them, about 169 were killed in the name of ‘crossfire/ gunfights/infights’, 20  tortured to death, 12 shot to death and 44 died in the custody in a total of  201 incidents. On the other hand, a total of 33 persons have been ‘disappeared’ by the law enforcement agencies (i.e., remained missing for at least 72 hours) in different incidents. Among them, death bodies of 02 persons were found, 13 shown arrested and 12 persons continue to remain missing.

In 2020, a total of 1637 females were raped. Among them, nearly787 victims were adults whereas alarmingly 850 were children (i.e., under the age of 16). It is a grave concern that 213 have been victims of gang-rape while as many  34 were brutally killed after being raped.Meanwhile, 177 women were killed in family feud related violence, 44 females injured and 34 females committed suicides in 255 incidents of family feuds. Approximately, 122 incidents of dowry-related violence were reported, where 57 were killed and 65 women physically abused over dowry demands. A total of 140 girls and women were reportedly victims of sexual harassment. In 2020, 21 incidents of acid throwing have occurred and 24 females were injured.It is also alarming that in a total of 136 violent incidents against children from January to December 2020, 56 lost their lives and 90 were critically injured.

According to HRSS’s report atleast 02 journalists were killed, 83 injured, 20 threatened, 17 arrested and 20 assaulted in a total of 125 incidents during 2020. Meanwhile, 110 people have been arrested and 141 cases filed under the Digital security Act 2018.HRSS has also observed the incidents of attacks on minorities in 2020, where at least 09 temples and 14 houses were partially or fully destroyed. Moreover, a minority member was killed and 12 injured in a total of 19 incidents.

On the other hand, according to HRSS, atleast 51 Bangladeshi citizens have been killed by BSF (Indian Border Security Force); 15 were injured, 12 bullet hit and 32 persons were arrested by BSF & BGP (Border Guard Police of Myanmar) in a total of 69 incidents. It has also been reported that in a total of 54 incidents of torture by law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), 560 people were injured and one hit by bullet. Moreover, at least 42 people were killed, 1648 people injured and 26 people bullet hit in political violence, whereas around 40 people were killed and 30 persons injured in public lynching.

HRSS is deeply concerned about the degradation of human rights condition in the country. It urges all human rights organizations as well as common citizens to raise their voice to protect and promote human rights in Bangladesh.