Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF), noted advocate and activist Sultana Kamal's new outfit to protect and promote human rights, on Friday expressed deep concern over a marked increase in human rights violations across the country in March.
The organisation also strongly demanded proper trials for human rights abusers and justice delivery for victims.
In its monthly report, the MSF said one man lost his life in an extrajudicial killing in March, 2023. Three people were abducted by law enforcers in plain clothes this month.
In addition to the unethical actions of some members of the police, allegations of their involvement in several crimes including indecent behavior, torture, extortion and harassment were published in the media, the report said.
At least two people, including a woman, died in the custody of law enforcement agencies and one man died while trying to escape arrest in March.
The MSF prepared the report based on information published in various media and also collected information through its own sources.
During the period between March 1 and 30, six people died in prison custody which was five in the previous month of February. All fell sick in prison and were taken to the Medical College Hospital outside the jail where they were declared dead.
Around 31 incidents of political violence occurred in March, during the programs of the opposition parties in different districts of the country, with 389 victims.
According to information in the media, political violence and post-UP election violence cost the lives of five people and injured around 385 people in March.
Violence against women and children such as; Rape, gang rape, sexual harassment, suicide and domestic violence especially physical violence have continued like in previous months which is very alarming.
Around 361 incidents of violence against women and children were reported in the month - 45 more than in February.
Among those incidents, 72 were rapes, 14 were organised or gang rapes, and six were incidents of murder after rape. Among the victims, four were disabled women.
On March 29, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) men in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am.
At least 40 journalists faced different troubles during this period. Among them, one was picked up by plainclothesmen with CID identity and sued under Digital Security Act, three more journalists were sued under Digital Security Act, four received death threats, three were assaulted, 21 journalists were attacked and 5 were injured while doing their professional duties in March, 2023.
Despite being heavily criticised, harassment in the name of the law utilising the DSA has not decreased, rather its arbitrary abuse created a new level of concern this month. According to the MSF, a total of seven persons including a journalist, two political activists (1 BNP, 1 Awami League),an actress, two youths and a government employee were arrested under the Digital Security Act in March.
Six incidents of minority torture (4 religious and 2 ethnic) were reported during the period in March.
Explosions in three market buildings and Sitakunda oxygen plant cost at least 43 lives and left around 188 people injured in this month. MSF seeks a strong role and special importance from authorities concerned to prevent recurrence of these incidents.
According to MSF statistics, casualties from mob beatings increased abnormally this month. Seven people were killed and seven others were critically injured in nine incidents of mob beating in March.