| Bangladesh tortures suspects of 2009 mutiny, says HRW |
DHAKA Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday accused Bangladesh of torturing and killing paramilitary soldiers accused of involvement in a 2009 mutiny, the latest in a string of complaints against the country’s feared special police force.
HRW said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite crime-fighting unit it has previously labelled a “death squad” was alleged to have been involved in many of the abuses.
“At least 47 suspects have died in custody,” said HRW, which interviewed more than 60 people for its report. “Detainees were subjected to beatings, often on the soles of their feet or palms of their hands, and to electric shock. Some victims described being hung upside down from the ceiling,” the group said in a statement.
“Torture is routinely used by security forces in Bangladesh,” it said. “Human Rights Watch and others have long documented the systematic use of torture in Bangladesh by its security forces, including the army, the Rapid Action Battalion and ... the country’s main intelligence agency.” The government denied the accusations.
“Allegations made by HRW about torture leading to custodial deaths are totally baseless,” said Kamaluddin Ahmed, a senior official at the Home Ministry. “Post mortem reports of people who died in custody mentioned clear reasons (for the deaths) and there is no evidence of torture. The Bangladesh government acts according to law.”
Reuters
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