Blood on the streets
Subtitle: the use of excessive force during Bangladesh protests
By: [by Tirana Hassan and Kyle Hunter]
Contributors: Hunter, Kyle; Human Rights Watch (Organization)
Publisher: Human Rights Watch
Published: 2013
Place of publication: [New York]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 46
ISBN-13: 9781623130404
Subjects: Police brutality; Demonstrations; Political violence; Riots; Violence; Extrajudicial executions; Human rights; Bangladesh. Rapid Action Battalion; Bangladesh
Other titles: Use of excessive force during Bangladesh protests; Bangladesh :
Description: "Since February 2013, large demonstrations in Bangladesh have been met with violence by security forces. At least 150 people--a large majority of them unarmed protesters and bystanders--have been killed and more than 2,000 injured. In January and February 2013, demonstrators gathered to protest or support verdicts handed down by a court set up to prosecute individuals responsible for atrocities committed during the country's 1971 war of independence. These protests were followed by even larger demonstrations in Dhaka in early May 2013 led by Hefazat-e-Islam, a conservative Islamic movement. Some demonstrations were entirely peaceful; in others, crowds of protesters attacked security forces with rocks and other improvised weapons. Blood on the Streets provides a detailed description of the demonstrations and their aftermath, and documents human rights violations that accompanied the government's response. While in some cases security forces responded to violence in an appropriate fashion, using non lethal methods to disperse crowds, in many other cases they responded with excessive force. Security forces used live ammunition improperly or without justification, killing some protesters in chaotic scenes and executing others in cold blood. Many of the dead were shot in the head and chest, indicating that security forces fired directly into crowds. Others were beaten or hacked to death. At least seven children were killed by security forces. Following the clashes, security forces in several instances engaged in arbitrary and often violent neighborhood sweeps, arbitrarily arresting scores of people. With the prospects of more war crimes verdicts and highly contested national elections approaching, it is critical that the Bangladeshi authorities ensure proper investigations into allegations of misconduct. The even-handed pursuit of justice is essential if Bangladesh is to avoid a cycle of violence and impunity and further deterioration of the human rights situation"--P. [4] of cover.
Notes: "This report was researched and written by Tirana Hassan ..."--P. 42.

"August 2013"--Spine.

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available online via the Human Rights Watch Web site.
Table of contents: title: Map of Bangladesh --; title: Summary.; title: ICT-related demonstrations and violence ;; title: Hefazat-e-Islam demonstrations and violence ;; title: Arrests and intimidation of protesters and the media ;; title: Government response ;; title: Key recommendations --; title: Methodology -- -- I.; title: International Crimes Tribunal protests and related violence.; title: Killings of police and Awami League supporters ;; title: Killings by security forces of protesters ;; title: Security force shootings of bystanders, including children ;; title: Disappearances -- -- II.; title: Violence related to the Hefazat-e-Islam rally, May 5-6, 2013.; title: Sequence of events ;; title: The security force operation early on May 6 ;; title: The May 6 clashes -- -- III. Government response.; title: Police sweeps and arrests, intimidation of victims and witnesses ;; title: Lack of investigations and refusal to register complaints from victims' families ;; title: Crackdown on bloggers and media ;; title: Bloggers ;; title: Media -- -- IV.; title: Recommendations.; title: To the government of Bangladesh ;; title: To political leaders ;; title: To the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and other international donors --; title: Acknowledgements ---- Appendix I.