The month of February saw the police outnumbering the Rapid Action Battalion in 'crossfire' incidents. Odhikar, a human rights coalition, in its monthly report published on Tuesday, said during the 28 days of the month, 34 persons were killed by the law enforcing agencies. Thirty suspected criminals got killed in 'crossfire'. Of them 28 were killed where the police were involved and the rest two died during exchange of fire between the RAB and the criminals, the report said. The remaining four persons died in various jails, added the Odhikar report. | Interesting, the Bangladesh press has not been giving us many "crossfire" stories recently. I wonder why? |
| They've noticed the spotlight you're shining on them? |
Besides the 'crossfire' killings and the deaths in the jails, the period also witnessed another 31 people killed and 879 injured in political violence, the report said, and added that a total of 304 people were arrested, and two were abducted on political issues, in violation of human rights. In February, a journalist named Belaluddin was killed in a bomb attack in Khulna, 24 journalists were injured across the country, five were arrested and five were sued, said the report. It also added that 36 journalists across the country were threatened with death by different quarters. | Well, that answers my question. The reporters must have gotten the message that some people didn't like those "crossfire" stories. |
According to the report, 42 women and children were raped, and of them nine were killed after being raped during the same period, while eight women, four men and one child sustained acid burn injuries. The Odhikar report also said that in January, 58 people were killed by the law enforcers, out of which 55 were victims of 'crossfire' by the RAB and police. In January, 41 people were killed and 697 injured in political violence and 304 were arrested for political reasons, the report said. During the period, 50 women and children were raped, and of them 13 were killed after being raped, the report added. The report said 33 people, including 4 children, fell victim to dowry-related violence across the country, out of which 12 were killed, 20 were oppressed and one committed suicide. | The depression level in the Bangladesh government Tourist Office must be something aweful. |
|