IDHRB At a Glance Action Research Study on the Institutional Development of Human
Rights in Bangladesh (IDHRB) Project has been undertaken

More recently a collapse of law and order has culminated in an rise of sexual assaults against women and womens rights.Even more than ever are womens human rights in Bangladesh non-existent.More women commit suicide from facing harrassment and there have been an alarming rise in rape incidents against women.

The Banglasdesh Government's human rights record remained poor in many significant areas in 2003, and it continued to commit serious abuses, although it respected citizens' rights in some areas. Police committed a number of extrajudicial killings, and some persons died in police custody under suspicious circumstances. Police routinely used torture, beatings, and other forms of abuse while interrogating suspects. Police frequently beat demonstrators. The Government rarely punishes persons responsible for torture or unlawful deaths. Prison conditions are extremely poor for the majority of the prison population. Rape of female detainees in prison or other official custody has been a problem; however, there were no reports of such occurrences during the year. The Government continued to arrest and detain persons arbitrarily, and to use the Special Powers Act (SPA) and Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allow for arbitrary arrest and preventive detention. The Public Safety Act (PSA), enacted in early 2000, gives the police even greater opportunity to abuse their powers. A court case challenging the constitutionality of the PSA remained pending at year's end. The lower judiciary is subject to executive influence and suffers from corruption. A large judicial case backlog existed and lengthy pretrial detention was a problem. Police searched homes without warrants, and the Government forcibly relocated illegal squatter settlements. Virtually all journalists practiced some self-censorship. Attacks on journalists and efforts to intimidate them by government officials, political party activists, and others increased. The Awami League as well as the BNP government limited freedom of assembly, particularly for political opponents, and both the Awami League and the BNP governments on occasion limited freedom of movement. The Government generally permitted a wide variety of human rights groups to conduct their activities, but it continued to refuse to register a local chapter of Amnesty International. Abuse of children and child prostitution are problems. Violence and discrimination against women remained serious problems. Societal discrimination against the disabled, indigenous people, and religious minorities was a problem. In the past, violence against members of the Ahmadiya religious minority was a problem. The Government continued to limit worker rights, especially in the Export Processing Zones (EPZ's), and, in general, is ineffective in enforcing workers' rights. Some domestic servants, including many children, work in conditions that resemble servitude and many suffer abuse. Child labor and abuse of child workers remained widespread and serious problems. Trafficking in women and children for the purpose of prostitution and at times for forced labor remained serious problems. Both major political parties and their activists often employed violence, causing deaths and numerous injuries; however, the number of deaths declined, likely due to fewer general strikes during the year. Vigilante justice resulted in numerous killings, according to press reports.

Western Demand for Shrimp Promotes Human Rights Abuses in the Developing World

Poor communities of developing nations are suffering a range of human rights abuses, including land seizure, sexual abuse, rape, child labour, forced labour and murder, because of Western demand for farmed shrimp according to a new report released today by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). “Smash & Grab: Conflict, Corruption and Human Rights Abuses in the Shrimp Farming Industry” describes these abuses and calls for urgent remedial action.

“The human rights abuses associated with this industry are widespread and serious. People are becoming poorer and hungrier and some have been killed as a direct consequence of Western demand for farmed shrimp,“ said Steve Trent, director of the EJF. “With sales of US$50-60 billion shrimp farming is big business, but the true cost is paid by the poor and vulnerable in developing countries where shrimp are farmed” continued Trent. The abuses reported in “Smash & Grab” include:

· Land seizure and displacement of tens of thousands of people

· Pollution of agricultural land and drinking water supplies with chemicals and salt

· Violent intimidation directed towards traditional users of coastal resources

· Murders directly linked to the industry in at least 11 countries and over 150 deaths in Bangladesh alone.

· Sexual abuse, including rape, by shrimp farm guards and processing plant employees

· Child labour, including exposure to chemicals, icy conditions, and long periods in water.

· Official corruption and profiteering

Shrimp farming has led to serious conflict over land rights and access to natural resources. Resulting social problems include increased poverty, landlessness, and reduced food security. In Ecuador, a single hectare of mangrove forest has been shown to provide food and livelihood for ten families, while a prawn farm of 110 hectares employs just six people during preparation and a further five during harvest. Globally, tens of thousands of rural poor in developing countries have been displaced following the impact of shrimp farming on traditional livelihoods. For instance, 20 thousand fisher-folk in Sri Lanka’s Puttalam District migrated following declines of fish catches following the advent of shrimp farming.

Wealth generated by exporting farmed shrimp rarely trickles down to the communities affected by the industry. Corruption, poor governance and greed have resulted in powerful individuals making vast sums of money from shrimp farming with little regard for the basic human rights of the poor communities living in shrimp farming areas. “It is another example of resource-use conflict in which the poor and vulnerable are suppressed by a powerful elite intent on making quick profits, whilst turning a blind eye to the abuses that result” said Dr Mike Shanahan of EJF.

“Most shrimp farmed in developing countries are eaten in Europe, the USA and Japan. Consumers in these countries must be made aware that when they eat shrimp they may be dining on a delicacy responsible for hunger, suffering, and death,” said Steve Trent.Solar panels Sponsored by seimenssolar.com