Odhikar has issued a press release as 10 December, International Human Rights Day, which also marked the 330th day of the state of emergency in Bangladesh. There have been 169 extrajudicial killings in this time and the organisation calls for an end to the state of emergency in order to uphold human rights.
(Bangkok, 11 December 2007) Odhikar, a FORUM-ASIA member in Bangladesh, issued a press release on 8 December as the upcoming International Human Rights Day (10 December) would also mark the 330th day of the state of emergency in the country. Since 12 January to 7 December 2007, there have been 169 extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh. Odhikar calls for an end to the state of emergency in order to uphold human rights.

Among the 169 people killed by law enforcement personnel, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has killed 84 people and the police have killed 59. 116 victims have been killed in so-called “crossfire” and 27 more were tortured to death.

The occupations of the victims vary. Eight people were members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), eight were members of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party, ten were members of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Jonojuddho) and eight were members of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Red Flag).

It is alleged that 23 of the victims were dacoits and 32 were criminals, but Odhikar could not find any information about their crimes. Others who have been killed were farmers, businesspeople, bus drivers.

Bangladesh is a signatory of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention Against Torture.Odhikar calls upon the government of Bangladesh to conduct an independent investigation of the execution cases, bring perpetrators to justice, compensate families of the victims and “thereby end the impunity for extrajudicial killing”.