FORUM-ASIA member from Bangladesh, Odhikar, published its quarterly human rights monitor report covering the period of July- September 2019. The report documents different human rights violations and looks at issues of impunity, abuses in prisons, repression on freedom of assembly, corruption, and violence against women, among others. It also looks into the human rights situation along [ Read more ]

(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 11 October 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the killing of Abrar Fahad, a student of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He was allegedly beaten to death by members of Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party Awami League, following his Facebook [ Read more ]

Odhikar strongly condemns the killing of BUET student Abrar Fahad In the night of 6 October 2019, Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was murdered by being beaten to death, by a group of Awami League backed Chhatra League activists, led by [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 3 October 2019) – The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) and its members deplore the flawed selection process for the appointment of new commissioners for the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh (NHRCB). The lack of a participatory, transparent and merit-based selection process has resulted in the selection of commissioners with [ Read more ]

(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 13 September 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses its deep concerns over the shutdown of 3G and 4G services in the Tekhnaf and Ukhiya camps, in Cox’s bazaar. This shutdown has grave consequences for the rights of the Rohingya people, as it restricts their freedom of expression, their [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 21 August 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development urges the Governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh to stop the repatriation of Rohingya refugees scheduled to start on 22 August. The Government of Myanmar has not met the conditions necessary to ensure voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees and the [ Read more ]

Global, 14 August 2019: – Following serious concerns expressed by the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) about torture in Bangladesh, seven human rights organizations call on the Bangladeshi government to recognize the magnitude of the problem and address and implement the nearly 90 recommendations made by the UN body. On 9 August 2019, the CAT, [ Read more ]

(Kathmandu/ Bangkok, 31 July 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is concerned over the mass escalation of Bangladeshis seeking political asylum overseas in the last few years. Asylum seekers often quote the repressive political environment and violations of basic civil and political rights in the country as reasons that have [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA member from Bangladesh, Odhikar, published its quarterly human rights monitor report. The report documents different violations and looks at cases of: Extrajudicial Killings Enforced Disappearances Public Lynchings Violence Against Women Rape Sexual Harassment Labour Rights Freedom of Expression and Repressive Laws Political Repression and hindrance to Freedom of Assembly *** For a PDF version of [ Read more ]

For this month’s e-newsletter, FORUM-ASIA talked with Sheepa Hafiza, Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), one of FORUM-ASIA’s members from Bangladesh. In this interview, Sheepa talks about her experiences working in a challenging environment and the inspiration that keeps her going. How did you become involved with human rights? And how did you [ Read more ]