Bangladesh human rights situation is not satisfactory, Amnesty International says

Human rights abuses remain widespread across Bangladesh, with the military-backed interim government doing little to end extra-judicial killings and the torturing of prisoners, Amnesty International said Thursday.

"Bangladesh has a long history of human rights abuses," Irene Khan, secretary general of the London-based independent human rights watchdog told a news conference in the capital after a six-day visit to Bangladesh. "Familiar patterns of human rights abuses by the state, law enforcers and security forces continue with impunity under this regime."

There was no immediate reaction from the government to Khan's comments.

A nonparty government, headed by former banker Fakhruddin Ahmed, took over Jan. 12 last year, a day after the president declared a state of emergency to quell violent opposition protests ahead of general elections, which were due to be held Jan. 22.

With the backing of the country's influential armed forces, the government made popular commitments to tackle corruption and political violence, make electoral reforms and hold free and fair elections by the end of 2008.

Almost a year on, however, there is increasing disappointment over the slow progress of reforms, an uncertain political future, the military's role in politics, and price hikes of food and essential items, Khan said in her statement.

Khan said the government should urgently review and amend some restrictions on fundamental rights, like freedom of expression and assembly, under stringent emergency rules.

"We believe such amendments should be a first step toward lifting of the emergency," Khan said. "The state of emergency should not be used as a long term mode of governance."

Khan said during the tour of Bangladesh, Amnesty found patterns of human rights violations including extra-judicial killings, arrests or detentions without charges or trial, torture in custody, and attacks on rights activists and detractors.

"We urge the government to scrupulously adhere to due process and the rule of law, respect fair trial standards, end arbitrary detention, reinstate the provisions for bail," Khan said. "This government must address those with more vigor than it has done so far."

Khan said the government claimed that extra-judicial killings had fallen in 2007, compared to previous years under elected political governments. But investigations into such cases had not been made public, she added.

Under an anti-corruption drive, dozens of senior politicians _ including two former prime ministers, top businessmen and bureaucrats have been arrested on graft and power abuse charges. Soldiers have also been handed civil duties such as running various public departments.

"Amnesty is concerned at the creeping role of the armed forces in a range of functions that should rightly be carried out by the civilian administration," Khan said.

Khan added that the army chief had assured her that the military was following the rule of law, and sees itself as supporting the civilian administration.

Amnesty International, however, had heard credible testimony of excesses by soldiers during its six-day Bangladesh mission, Khan said. She did not elaborate.