Annual Report 2016
condition and naturally they could not enjoy
constitutional and other human rights.
NHRC appreciates that the people have got
their right to vote.
But, on the other hand, the UP election experienced incidents of killing and violence.
Political factions and strifes in local election
sometime make some people tensed and
apprehensive of their civil and political
rights as well as human rights. NHRC is on
the opinion that law and order situation and
level playing field must be established and
maintained before any election is held.
Long-term Imprisonment without Trial
NHRC considers that long term imprisonment without proving an offence is a grave
violation of human rights. NHRC noticed a
number of incidences of long term imprisonment without trial in 2016. The case of Md.
Shipon needs to be specifically mentioned.
The man languished in jail for 16 years without trial. The trial of the case finally started
earlier in 2016 and Shipon was granted bail.9
The High Court (HC) also in a suo moto
move granted bail to three persons who were
arrested at least 16 to 18 years ago in separate murder cases and languishing in the
prison since then.10
There are 462 such inmates who are residing
in Prison for more than 05 years in 58 prisons
as their trial proceedings are yet to be completed, according to a report prepared by the
prison authorities. The office of the inspector
general of prisons has submitted the report to
the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee
(SCLAC) on December 7.11
Slow pace in the Justice Delivery System
The slow pace at justice delivery system is
one of the root causes behind increasing
trend of the incidents of human rights violations. Every year NHRC notices a number of
human rights violation cases are pending in
court due to delay in recording and investigation of cases, non appearance of witness,
delay in medical report and many such
reasons, it becomes very difficult to prove
the cases and as a result perpetrators are
acquitted in many cases. NHRC expresses
deep concern about the fact. It believes that
every person has the right to justice. Justice
delivery system should be speedy and the
perpetrators must be punished. In this regard
commission urges that government should
take necessary step to strengthen the prosecution, increasing number of the courts and
other logistics support.
9 Dhaka tribune, Published in 08/11/2017. Available
at: http://www.dhakatrbune.com/ bangldesh/lawrights/2016/11/08/24-went-40-jail-without-trial/
10 The Daily Observer, 05 December 2016, Available
at: http://www.observerbd.com/details.php?id=46904
11The Daily Star, http://www.thedailystar.net/
frontpage/prisoners-under-trial-462-languishing-jail
-5-years-and-more-1328818
10