24 deaths in jail custody in September, 23 killed in ‘mob’: MSF

Manabadhikar Sanskriti Foundation (MSF) has presented the information of 23 persons killed in ‘mob’ violence and 24 persons dying in jail custody in the month of September.

The organization has published this list by reviewing the human rights situation of the month of September on the basis of the information published in the media and its own observation.

The organization has said, “Along with the tendency of taking the law into one’s own hands through mob remaining continuous the number of deaths in jail custody has increased significantly compared to the previous month.”

It has been said in a press release of MSF by presenting the information of the report on Wednesday (September 30) that 23 persons were killed and 74 persons were injured in at least 65 incidents of ‘mob’ violence in the month of September. Although the number of the killed has decreased compared to the month of August they consider this type of incident as concerning.

It has been mentioned in the report that the significant incidents of these ‘mob’ violence have occurred centring the allegations of theft, robbery, land and economic disputes, altercation and sexual violence.

On the other hand 24 persons have died in jail custody in September where this number was 9 in August. MSF has also documented the incident of the death of one woman in the custody of the law and order force at the same time.

Besides 384 persons were injured and at least one person was killed in political violence in September. MSF has informed that another 7 persons have been killed in unidentified attacks.

The organization has also given the information of recovering 71 unidentified dead bodies from various places in September. Among them 55 are men, 15 are women and the age and gender of one could not be identified.

MSF has claimed that although the physical attacks on the journalists have decreased somewhat the legal harassment has increased.

It has been said in the report that 28 journalists became victims of attack or torture and nine faced legal harassment in September. At the same time the cases under digital or cyber law increased from three to eight and the arrests increased from three to eight persons.

Besides MSF has said on the matter of the security of the minorities that they have documented at least 10 incidents of vandalizing idols and one incident of ethnic torture at various places in September.

The incident of slaughtering cows and holding picnic at the Mahashamshan of Kushtia and taking pictures by wearing shoes on the pyre and the grave has also come in their report.

The organization has also given the information of the incidents of Bangladeshi citizens being killed and injured by the firing of the BSF in the border areas, detention and the attempt of push-in or pushing back. The information of one Bangladeshi being injured by the firing of the Arakan Army at the Myanmar border has been presented in the report.