US Human Rights Report exposes Hasina govts brutality: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Tuesday, "Human Rights Report-2023 released by the US has exposed the injustice and brutality of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas  government in Bangladesh."

Speaking at a press conference at Naya Paltan BNP central office Rizvi said, "The US report objectively depicted the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh, including the arrest of opposition leaders and obstruction to their peaceful gatherings."
He said, "The report expressed deep concern over the horrific human rights violations in Bangladesh, including the incidents of enforced disappearance, assassinations and torture."

"It has also pointed out that the citizens right to bring a change in the government through free and fair elections has been taken away," Rizvi said.

He said a certain truth regarding the human rights condition in Bangladesh has come out in the report by highlighting the visible incidents of injustice and cruelty.

The BNP leader said that during briefing, Robert S Gilchrist, senior official in the US State Departments Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labour, described Bangladeshs human rights situation as alarming.

He said Gilchrist also mentioned that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was removed from the electoral process through plots. Rizvi said 15 cases were filed against Sheikh Hasina while only four cases were filed against Khaleda Zia during 1/11 political changeover.

When Sheikh Hasina came to power, he alleged that all the 15 cases against her were hurriedly withdrawn while Khaleda was convicted in  false cases using the judiciary.

"We talked about these things many times…it has now come up in US reports. People used to believe that Begum Khaleda Zia was a victim of political vengeance of the present government…the democratic world has now pointed it out through their very objective observation," the BNP leader said.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of State released the?2023 Human Rights Report, which the US Embassy described as a "factual and objective" record on the status of respect for human rights worldwide.

The 2023 Human Rights Report (HRR) covers 198 countries and territories.

There were reports of widespread impunity for human rights abuses like extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on freedom of expression and media and peaceful assembly, said the report in its Bangladesh chapter.