•HRES 761 IH 
Whereas the caretaker government under President Iajjudin 
Ahmad imposed a state of emergency, subsequently sus-
pending 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 traf-
ficking in persons; 
Whereas United Nations Special Rapporteur Sigma Huda is 
suffering from coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, 
and chronic renal failure, requiring special medical atten-
tion 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 imprison-
ment 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 se-
curing 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 sen-
tenced to serve 3 years in prison; 
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•HRES 761 IH 
Whereas numerous anti-government demonstrations and pro-
tests have taken place in Dhaka, the capital of Ban-
gladesh, 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 Reli-
gious 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, Chris-
tians, and Ahmadis: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on the Secretary of State to investigate 
and determine if the charges brought against United 
Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Per-
sons, Sigma Huda, constitute a retaliation by the 
military-backed emergency ‘‘caretaker’’ Government 
of Bangladesh for her family’s alleged political ac-
tivities; 
(2) encourages the Secretary of State and 
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to 
investigate the fairness and legitimacy of the trial 
and resulting conviction of United Nations Special 
Rapporteur Sigma Huda; 
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•HRES 761 IH 
(3) urges the Secretary of State to condemn the 
ill treatment of human rights defenders and to call 
on the caretaker government to ensure due process 
and equal treatment under the rule of law for all 
suspects, accused, and witnesses; 
(4) asks the President to direct the United 
States Permanent Representative to the United Na-
tions to submit a resolution to the United Nations 
condemning the caretaker government for its contin-
ued human rights violations; and 
(5) proposes that the President recognize the 
return of democracy to Bangladesh as a high pri-
ority of United States foreign policy and assume a 
leadership role in restoring a publicly-elected govern-
ment in Bangladesh. 
Æ 
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