Human rights violation cost B’desh 23 lives in Mar: Report

File photo of the aftermath of violence in Dhaka

IANS DHAKA

More than 23 people were killed and 733 injured in 97 incidents of political violence across Bangladesh last month, according to the latest report released by Dhaka-based Human Rights Support Society (HRSS). Highlighting the grim picture of the human rights situation in the turmoil-hit nation, the HRSS report revealed that at least 40 incidents of "mob beating" took place across the country, killing 12 people and injuring 44 others in March.

Amid rising incidents of violence against women in the South Asian nation, at least 284 women and girls were also subjected to various forms of torture in the country, last month. Of them, 133 were rape victims, among whom 83 were aged below 18. A total of 30 women and girls were gang raped, and 102 were subjected to sexual harassment.

Besides, 20 women were killed in domestic violence, while 207 children were tortured, and 18 of them were killed, the report revealed. Seven workers were also killed and over 120 wounded in 21 incidents as several protests were held due to non-payment of dues and the closing down of factories. Five workers died in workplace accidents last month, while an underage domestic help died due to torture by the employer, the report mentioned.

The HRSS report highlighted that extortion, vengeance and establishing supremacy sparked violent political infighting, mainly between two groups of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists. The party activists were involved in 88 of the clashes, including 64 intra-party clashes. Similarly, National Citizen Party (NCP) men were involved in two intra-party clashes, injuring 10. Such incidents of growing political violence in Bangladesh left 502 others injured in March.