Human Rights Monitoring Report August-October 2010

Murder: From August 1 to October 31, total 428 people were killed for various reasons such as terrorist attack, robbery, clashes for land and properties, dowry, rape, acid throwing etc. In August, this number was 74 while in September it became 195 and in October the number was 159. Among these victims 101 were women, 295 were men and 32 were children.

Violence against women: Dowry: In August, 5 women were killed for dowry when in September it became 9. In October the incidents of killing wives for dowry was 5 in number. During this period 9 women were severely wounded for this reason. Total 28 women were tortured for dowry during these three months. These incidents happened in Narayangonj, Shunamgonj, Tangail, Feni, Shirajgonj, Faridpur, Mymensing, Chandpur,Sherpur, Dhaka, Sylhet, Faridpur, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Jessore and Chittagong .

Acid Throwing: During the period of August- October 2010, 11 people were victims of acid violence. Among them  were 10 women and 1 man. Previous enmity, clashes for properties, family feudal and rejection of proposals were the main reasons behind these forms of violence. These incidents happened in Kishoregonj, Narail, Bogra, Barisal, Dhaka, Gaibandha and Chittagong.

Rape: In August, 5 women were raped and 2 of the victims were children. In September, this number was 10. In October total 8 women went through this violence. Of these victims, 4 were killed and 1 committed suicide after rape. These incidents happened in Dhaka, Narail, Mymensing,, Gouripur, Thakurgaon, Kushtia, Bhahmanbaria and Gaibandha.

Eve Teasing: In October 28 incidents of Eve Teasing happened all over the country. Among these, a college teacher named Mizanur Rahman at Nator and a mother named Chapa Rani Bhaumik at Faridpur were killed in two different incidents by the stalkers for protesting against the eve teasing. Beside this, 4 members of a family were physically assaulted by stalkers. 9 girls stopped going school as a result of  stalking.

Suicide: From August to October, total 57 incidents of suicide occurred. Among them 35 women, 2 children and 20 were men. The main causes are poverty, dowry, family conflict, eve teasing etc. These occurred in Naogaon, Dhaka, Bazitpur, Bogra, Mymensing, Bagerhat, Gaibandha,Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Jhalokathi, Shatkhira, Sylhet, Nilfamari and Chittagong. In August there were 11, in September there were 32 and in October there were 14 people who committed suicide.

Journalist under Attack: During the three months August to October 2010, various journalists have been tortured and harassed in diverse ways. During this time, 11 journalists were injured or assaulted on different issues.

In August, some hijackers tried to kill Majibur Rahman, the general secretary of Araihajar thana Press Club of Narayangong and thana correspondent of Bangladesh Pratidin and snatched his money and mobile phone set .

In September, 6 journalists were under attack in different 3 incidents. The Rangpur representative of the Daily Jugantar , Mahbub Rahman, was stabbed by some Awami League activists at Rangpur, three local photo journalists from Comilla Bahar Raihan, NK Ripon, Humayun Kabir and Delwar Hussain Jakir were assaulted by two local  rival groups during a clash. The staff reporter of The Daily Samakal SM Munna was attacked by a neighbour Haidar Ali as Haidar forcefully  tried to capture  his land.

In October, 4 journalists were harassed in 2 different incidents. Police assaulted the senior reporter of the Daily Jaijaidin ,Nikhil Bhadra ,and the senior reporter of The Daily Kaler Kantha, Amitosh Pal, without any valid reason. As a result of the assault, Nikhil Bhadra was admitted to a hospital. On the other hand, Journalist Tofazzal Hossen and cameraman of ATN Bangla were physically assaulted by Awami League activists while performing their duty at Banpara, Nator at the time of the killing of Sanaullah Babu.