Pressured disappearance: UN group registers 5 extra circumstances

Up to now yr, 5 new incidents of compelled disappearances in Bangladesh have been reported to the UN Working Group.

This takes the variety of circumstances being investigated by the UN physique to 81.

Two of the 5 circumstances have been reported inside the Might 2021-2022 reporting yr, whereas the opposite three have been reported earlier.

The UN group wrote to the federal government about 5 circumstances however has not obtained a response but.

The main points of those circumstances are unknown because the group solely discloses the names to the federal government company it’s speaking with.

In line with the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Fee (AHRC), 19 new circumstances of compelled disappearances have been registered inside this reporting interval, and 4 victims are nonetheless lacking.

The AHRC maintains accounts of compelled disappearances reported by the media in Bangladesh.

Two of the 5 new circumstances taken up by the United Nations Working Group are thought-about “time-sensitive” or “pressing course of” circumstances, the place an individual is being detained arbitrarily, and the state of affairs requires quick motion by the federal government. the needed.

This meant that the United Nations had proof that two individuals have been being forcibly and arbitrarily arrested when the data was despatched to the federal government.

Though the circumstances stay unresolved, it’s not clear whether or not the 2 have been launched or are nonetheless forcibly disappeared.

Dialogue on all issues will start tomorrow on the 128th session of the UN Working Group. It’ll run until 28 September.

The UN Working Group’s annual report states that it despatched 4 letters to Bangladesh on varied grounds.

One was an pressing attraction to make sure that the rights, life and liberty of an undisclosed detainee are upheld, and that they be allowed honest proceedings earlier than an impartial and neutral tribunal.

The second was a immediate intervention letter addressing allegations of harassment and intimidation by human rights defenders and relations of lacking individuals in Bangladesh.

The group additionally despatched a “joint chargesheet” written with different particular process mandate holders, and a basic chargesheet regarding impediments to the implementation of the Declaration on the Safety of All Individuals from Disappearance.

In line with paperwork made public, one of many few letters despatched by the working group contains expressing concern over allegations that police have been harassing the households of victims of compelled disappearances, whereas one spoke about judicial harassment of NGO Odhikari. I used to be requested for info.

Paperwork present that the federal government had responded to the letter utterly denying police harassment.

“The Working Group doubles down on officers to offer further info, together with responding to their respective basic allegations, transmitted after its a hundred and twenty fifth session, to make clear all excellent issues, and to launch an impartial and neutral investigation into RAPID’s operations.” Motion Battalion, notably because it pertains to allegations of compelled disappearances by its brokers,” the report mentioned.

“The Working Group additional emphasizes that the Authorities of Bangladesh ought to be certain that relations of lacking individuals and human rights defenders and civil society organizations appearing on their behalf are protected against any menace, menace or retaliation.

The annual report mentioned, “On this regard, the working group is especially involved that the federal government has determined to not renew the registration of Odhikar, a number one human rights group that paperwork circumstances of human rights violations, Together with compelled disappearances.”

It reminded that each one individuals concerned within the investigation, together with complainants, legal professionals, witnesses and investigators, should be protected against abuse, intimidation or retaliation.

The group reiterated its curiosity in visiting Bangladesh and mentioned that it has despatched a number of communications on this regard since 2013.

The report mentioned authorities representatives from Bangladesh attended the 126th session of the working group held final February.

The annual report might be offered to the Human Rights Council on 20 September.