Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. ~Article 3 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
December 10 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, originally adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
It is at this time, when the sanctity of human rights, respect and dignity should be embraced and celebrated globally that Bangladesh is facing some of its most difficult and challenging hardships.
Over the last 14 years, under the leadership of the Awami League headed by Sheikh Hasina, the country has seen an excruciatingly shrinking space for the right to freedom of expression, freedom of speech, electoral rights, and democracy. Between 2009 and June 2022, at least 2,658 people were killed extrajudicially, and 623 became victims of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission, or AHRC, said in a statement.
The opposition parties in the country have been stripped of all rights to campaign and participate in the elections, whereas their leaders, supporters and activists have been imprisoned on false charges. This leaves the people of Bangladesh with no voice to choose their leaders, as is their constitutional right.
Over the years, the democratic space in Bangladesh has been diminished, with citizens being incarcerated, tortured and often killed for even the slightest comments on social media which are perceived by the authorities as a criticism of Sheikh Hasina and her party.
The notorious Digital Security Act is utilized to validate the government’s unconstitutional overreach into the lives of Bangladeshis by monitoring their online and cell phone usage.
Bangladeshis have been under a one-party authoritarian rule since 2009, with no representation on any spectrum, either political or legal.
Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” As a United Nations member state, Bangladesh has committed to upholding democratic practices which have been ignored time and time again.
CHRD Bangladesh fully supports the position of the United States State Department that Bangladesh has an obligation to uphold democracy, the respect for human rights, the right to free expression, the freedom of the press, the right of peaceful assembly, and a process for a free, fair, and inclusive elections.