Comitted to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 157 Sat. November 01, 2003  
   
General


Five die in police custody last month: Odhikar


Five people died in police custody while two women and two children were violated by the law enforcers last month.

Of them, three people died in two police stations in the capital and two others were shot dead by police and ansar, according to a survey report of Odhikar, a coalition for human rights.

The survey was conducted on the basis of reports published in different national dailies in October.

Eight others also died in jail custody.

Of them, six died following sickness, another from torture and the other committed suicide.

Odhikar said 34 people were killed, 459 injured and 131 arrested in political violence during the period.

Besides, 24 women were killed, six others tortured and another suffered acid-burns. Two also committed suicide on dowry-related incident, said the report.

The month also witnessed 106 rape incidents while 11 were killed after the rape.

The report said 52 children were killed, 21injured, 40 raped, 18 abducted, four suffered acid burns and five committed suicide across the country.

At least 30 women also suffered acid burns across the country during the period.

Two journalists were injured, one arrested, six harassed, nine threatened and 14 others implicated in cases, it added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum has said 649 incidents of violation against children took place in October.

A press release of the forum said a total of 146 incidents of unnatural death of children took place while 29 others were abducted.

Bureau of Human Rights of Bangladesh (BHRB) said 292 people were killed in October.

Of them, 52 were killed by the extremists, 11 by the robbers, three by the hijackers and 13 were beaten to dearth by the mob.