IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 761 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the violation 

of the human rights of United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking 

in Persons, Sigma Huda, and others, by the caretaker government of 

Bangladesh. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 18, 2007 

Mr. WOLF submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the violation of the human rights of United Nations 

Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Sigma 

Huda, and others, by the caretaker government of Bangladesh. 

Whereas the Constitution of Bangladesh, ratified in 1972 following a war of independence, established a democracy 

ruled by and for the people; 

Whereas the government of Bangladesh has been controlled 

by a military-backed emergency ‘‘caretaker’’ government 

since January 2007; 


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•HRES 761 IH 

Whereas the caretaker government under President Iajjudin 

Ahmad imposed a state of emergency, subsequently suspending the fundamental rights of the people; 

Whereas United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking 

in Persons, Sigma Huda, has been a important leader 

and humanitarian in the global effort to combat trafficking in persons; 

Whereas United Nations Special Rapporteur Sigma Huda is 

suffering from coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, 

and chronic renal failure, requiring special medical attention and surgery; 

Whereas the Anti-Corruption Commission established by the 

caretaker government forced United Nations Special 

Rapporteur Sigma Huda to leave hospital treatment in 

an ambulance to come before a special court, lying on a 

stretcher in hospital attire; 

Whereas United Nations Special Rapporteur Sigma Huda 

has been subjected to pretrial detention and imprisonment ever since July 5, 2007, under harsh conditions 

that threaten her life; 

Whereas, according to her attorneys, Sigma Huda’s family 

had been barred from visiting her, delivering food, or securing safe storage of her prescribed medicines in the 

concluding days of her trial; 

Whereas the Anti-Corruption Commission’s special court 

failed to observe an independent judiciary and abide by 

Bangladeshi rule of law in the trial and treatment of 

United Nations Special Rapporteur Sigma Huda; 

Whereas United Nations Special Rapporteur Sigma Huda 

was convicted of extortion on August 27, 2007, and sentenced to serve 3 years in prison; 


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•HRES 761 IH 

Whereas numerous anti-government demonstrations and protests have taken place in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in recent weeks, leading the government to shut 

down numerous universities and enforce a curfew 

throughout the capital and other major cities; 

Whereas the caretaker government has agreed to schedule 

elections by the end of 2008, keeping Bangladesh in a 

state of emergency until then; and 

Whereas the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has placed Bangladesh on its Watch List 

due to concerns about Islamist radicalism and violence 

and the threatening conditions for and discrimination 

against religious minorities, particularly Hindus, Christians, and Ahmadis: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls on the Secretary of State to investigate 

3 and determine if the charges brought against United 

4 Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Per5 sons, Sigma Huda, constitute a retaliation by the 

6 military-backed emergency ‘‘caretaker’’ Government 

7 of Bangladesh for her family’s alleged political ac8 tivities; 

9 (2) encourages the Secretary of State and 

10 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to 

11 investigate the fairness and legitimacy of the trial 

12 and resulting conviction of United Nations Special 

13 Rapporteur Sigma Huda; 


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•HRES 761 IH 

1 (3) urges the Secretary of State to condemn the 

2 ill treatment of human rights defenders and to call 

3 on the caretaker government to ensure due process 

4 and equal treatment under the rule of law for all 

5 suspects, accused, and witnesses; 

6 (4) asks the President to direct the United 

7 States Permanent Representative to the United Na8 tions to submit a resolution to the United Nations 

9 condemning the caretaker government for its contin10 ued human rights violations; and 

11 (5) proposes that the President recognize the 

12 return of democracy to Bangladesh as a high pri13 ority of United States foreign policy and assume a 

14 leadership role in restoring a publicly-elected govern15 ment in Bangladesh. 

Æ 


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