US Human Rights Reports criticizes Bangladesh for violating human rights

US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 criticizes Bangladesh for not taking measures to investigate and prosecute cases of abuse and killing by security forces.

Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan speaks about the release of the 2017 country reports on human rights practices during a news conference on 20 April 2018 Source: AP Photo/Susan Walsh

US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 is released on 20 April 2018.

It raised concerns about Bangladesh especially for extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary or unlawful detentions, and forced disappearances by government security forces.

Restrictions on civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press, and the activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); a lack of freedom to participate in the political process; corruption; violence and discrimination based on gender, religious affiliation, caste, tribe, including indigenous persons, and sexual orientation and gender identity also persisted and, in part, due to a lack of accountability also discussed in the report.

Bangladesh government is blamed for taking limited measures to investigate and prosecute cases of abuse and killing by security forces.

The report says public distrust of police and security services deterred many from approaching government forces for assistance or to report criminal incidents.