The High Court on Monday asked the trial court to dispose of cases filed against three prisoners, who have been languishing in jails without trial for long, within three months. An HC bench of Justice AKM Abdul Hakim and Justice…
Category: Human rights
Woman deported to Singapore despite 27-year marriage
A woman who has been married to a British man for 27 years has been deported to Singapore. Irene Clennel was being held in a Scottish detention centre, but has now told the BBC she has been sent back to…
Govt planning another controversial election: Khaleda
Dhaka – BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that the government is planning to hold another farce poll by using what she said the controversial Election Commission (EC).
Pro-BNP lawyers sweep Dhaka Bar election
Dhaka – BNP-Jamaat’s Blue panel won landslide victory in Dhaka Bar Election 2017-2018 defeating the pro-Awami League White panel.
Muhammad Ali Jr. detained by US immigration officials
Dhaka -The son of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was detained for hours by immigration officials earlier this month at a Florida airport, according to a family friend. Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, and his mother, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the first wife of…
Israel denies Human Rights Watch work permit
Jerusalem – Israeli authorities denied Human Rights Watch’s application for a work permit for its Israel and Palestine director on the grounds that it is not a real human rights group, the organization said on Friday.
UN experts urge BD to stop ‘enforced disappearances’
Dhaka, Feb 24 – United Nations human rights experts have called on Bangladesh to act now to halt an ‘increasing number of enforced disappearances’ in the country, UNB news agency has reported. The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary…
Expanding US Fast-Track Deportations a Disastrous Idea
A US Department of Homeland Security memo implementing one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration exponentially expands the number of people subject to fast-track deportation, or expedited removal. It is likely to speed up the pace of removals…
Trump rescinds transgender bathroom rules from Obama era
The Trump administration has rescinded guidance enacted by his predecessor in favour of transgender students, the White House has said.
UK Court: Non-EU spouse only if earns 1800 pounds yearly
The Supreme Court has ruled that it is legal for the government to keep non-EU spouses out of the UK if their British partner does not meet minimum earnings. But the ruling held out hope for families with children separated…
Amnesty blames Trump, others in global squeeze on rights.
Paris, Feb 22 (AP/UNB) — Amnesty International says “toxic” fear-mongering by anti-establishment politicians, among them President Donald Trump and the leaders of Turkey, Hungary and the Philippines, is contributing to a global pushback against human rights.
Myanmar probing police ‘cover-up’ of deaths of two Rohingya Muslims
Myanmar’s army-controlled home ministry is investigating a cover-up by the country’s border force of the deaths in custody of two Rohingya Muslims in troubled Rakhine State, according to a police report reviewed by Reuters and interviews with two senior security…
Syria: Make human rights priority of Geneva talks
Participants in the February 23, 2017, UN-sponsored Syria peace talks in Geneva should prioritize five key human rights issues during negotiations, 40 human rights and other organizations said today. The priorities are to end unlawful attacks, ensure aid access and…
New EC calls election to Comilla city corpn, Sunamganj 2
Dhaka – The newly formed Election Commission yesterday announced its first election schedule to Comilla City Corporation (CCC) elections and by-polls of Sunamganj-2 constituency to be held on March 30.
World Report 2017: Demagogues Threaten Human Rights
The rise of populist leaders in the United States and Europe poses a dangerous threat to basic rights protections while encouraging abuse by autocrats around the world, Human Rights Watch said today in launching its World Report 2017. Donald Trump’s…
Digital voting machine could be introduced if all agree: EC Secy
Election Commission Secretary Muhammad Abdullah on Sunday said the Election Commission will introduce the digital voting machine (DVM) only after it gets positive responses from all quarters. “We must go for the system after satisfying all…if all want, the commission…
Zuckerberg Manifesto is blueprint to destroy journalism?
Lip service to the crucial function of the Fourth Estate is not enough to sustain it. It’s not that Mark Zuckerberg set out to dismantle the news business when he founded Facebook 13 years ago. Yet news organizations are perhaps…
Remove draft law provision for marriage under 18: HRW
Dhaka, Feb 18 – Bangladesh should remove the provision in the draft law permitting marriage under the age of 18 to work toward a Bangladesh free of child marriage, says a senior official of the Human rights Watch (HRW), UNB…
UN Rights Office ‘dramatically and chronically underfunded’
Geneva, 16 Feb (Kanaga Raja) – The United Nations Human Rights Office has launched an appeal of nearly US$253 million in extra-budgetary funding for its work programme in 2017, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights lamenting that his…
El Salvador Should Decriminalize Abortion
In 2013, the life of “Beatriz,” a 22-year-old woman in El Salvador, was put in grave danger as a result of her pregnancy. But abortion is illegal in El Salvador. source:HRW
Leaks, tweets, and real threats to democracy
In at least one respect, Donald Trump is following in Barack Obama’s footsteps: his hyper-aggressive response to government leaks of information. U.S. President Donald Trump holds his earpiece as he holds a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo…
For civil society networking, HR status info sharing in South Asia
The regional consultation of South Asian Citizens’ Voices on Democracy and Peoples Security was attended by representatives of the civil society from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. During the two day consultation they had many…
Myanmar says army ends operation in troubled Rakhine state
Myanmar’s national security adviser says the military has ended its four-month counterinsurgency operation in troubled Rakhine state, where it had been accused of rape, torture and other abuses against Muslim Rohingya minority residents.
CEC promises fair polls – urges govt not to influence
Dhaka, Feb 15 – Urging the government not to influence the Election Commission, New Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Wednesday promised to hold fair polls wining the trust of all political parties, including BNP.
Peacempire forms coalition to fight child marriages
Rakibul Hasan Peacempire, an initiative to scale down Early Marriage, undertook major activities among 2805 adolescents, youths and adults, mostly aged 13 to 25 years, who represent over 32 villages in the district of Narayanganj, Bangladesh. We have surpassed the…
BNP to discuss with Prime Minister election-time govt
Dhaka – The BNP on Monday expressed its eagerness to discuss with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina across the table on election-time supportive government.
BNP out to make EC controversial sensing polls debacle: Quader
Dhaka, Feb 11 – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday alleged that BNP is trying to make the new Election Commission (EC) controversial apprehending a debacle in the next general election like Narayanganj city polls.
UK has sullied its proud history of helping child refugees
A statue of five young children, gathered around their suitcases and looking a little lost, sits outside London’s Liverpool Street Station. It’s a gift to the people of Britain on behalf of the children of Kindertransport, the rescue effort that…
Trump loses appeal against immigration ban suspension
Federal appeals court unanimously votes against reinstatement of immigration ban Keegan Hamilton on Feb 9, 2017 A federal appeals court declined to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries on Thursday, potentially setting the stage for…
Rohingyas: Refugee Camp narrative of hope, despair
Abu Raihan MuammedKhalid This is a story of the most unfortunate people of our time. Their own country rejects them. The country they came in denies them. This is a story of the Rohingya refugees living in Kutupalong Refugee Camp…