*** For a PDF version of this statement, click here.

(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 22 May 2019) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the arrest of human rights defenders. Md. Abdul Kaium, who works for FORUM-ASIA member organisation Odhikar, writer-lawyer Imtiaz Mahmud, and poet-journalist Henry Swapon under the Digital Security Act 2018. FORUM-ASIA firmly urges the Government to stop such harassment of [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 22 March 2019) – Maroof Zaman, a former Bangladeshi diplomat, returned home on Saturday, 16 March 2019, after having been held in detention for 465 days, allegedly by the government military agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.[1] He was found wandering in his neighbourhood. Zaman went missing in the evening of 4 December [ Read more ]

This report has been prepared based on an analysis of the overall pre-electoral situation leading up to the 11th National Parliament elections. Odhikar has been under severe state-level oppression and harassment1, due to its strong protests and campaigns against human rights violations and for publishing reports on the inactions of the Election Commission and on [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 26 December 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is gravely concerned about the ongoing crackdown on political opponents and increasing violence over electioneering ahead of Bangladesh national election on 30 December 2018. FORUM-ASIA calls on the Government of Bangladesh and its law enforcement authorities to enable a conducive environment [ Read more ]

This report focuses exclusively on the human rights situation in Bangladesh. It is the culmination of years of advocacy on Bangladesh through member organisations, reports and reflections in regional and international platforms, and country visits conducted in the recent past by FORUM-ASIA. The report ‘Shrinking Democratic Space and Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh’ examines: the [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA member from Bangladesh, Odhikar, published its monthly human rights monitor report. The November 2018 report focuses on the following: Statistics of Human Rights Violations: January-November 2018 National Parliament Elections and Human Rights Election Commission and Upcoming General Elections Hindrance to Meetings and Rallies Repression on Organisations and Citizens having Alternative Beliefs Political Violence Extrajudicial Killings [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 16 November 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA) strongly denounces the ongoing attack and harassment of Odhikar, a human rights organisation in Bangladesh. It has recently been a target of false and fabricated accusations. On 11 November, Janakantha, a pro-government newspaper published an article titled “The controversial organization [ Read more ]

On 11 November 2018 a report by Bibhash Baroi titled “Controversial organisation Odhikar is again involved in murky activities” published in the daily Janakantha, has come to Odhikar’s knowledge. Such report is completely false, fabricated and motivated. In this report, it has been stated that “the intelligence agency recommended stopping all the activities of Odhikar [ Read more ]

(Bangladesh/Kathmandu, 13 November 2018) – The Asian forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly denounces the continued detention of Shahidul Alam, a well-known photographer and human rights activist from Bangladesh. Alam, who founded the Drik Photo Gallery, was arrested shortly after he posted on Facebook about the protests for road safety in Dhaka in [ Read more ]