CHAPTER 02:
Human Rights Outlook in 2021: An
Evaluation
Bangladesh has celebrated 50 years of its
independence in 2021. On 06 February
2021 UN Committee for Development
Policy (CDP) has given final
recommendation
for
graduating
Bangladesh from LDC category to
developing country after reversing the
developmental progress of Bangladesh.
This recommendation was accepted by
the UN General Assembly on 24
November. This year Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina has been conferred with
“SDG progress Award” as recognition of
Bangladesh’s Progress in achieving
SDGs. On the other hand, Bangladesh
has faced multifaceted challenges in
fighting with Covid-19 in this year too.
Although the government of Bangladesh
has Succeeded in reducing the risk of
Covid-19 by declaring lockdown and
providing vaccines, many people have
lost jobs and the number of people living
under poverty line has increased. As a
result, discrimination has increased and
human rights violation has occurred.
This year, Violence against Woman, road
accident, torture on minorities and
election violence have been matters of
concern. Human rights culture is not only
a matter of government, personal,
familial and social behavior also matter
for this. Just as road accidents are human
rights violation. We are also violating the
rights of others by disobeying the law.
This year, domestic violence and child
marriage are alarming. In this year too
media reported about the news of
crossfire by LEAs, torture and death in
30
custody. On the other hand, casualties by
BSF in India-Bangladesh border also
occurred in this year.
2.1. Rohingya Crisis
This year, UN has adopted resolution on
Rohingya for the first time. OIC and EU
jointly tabled this resolution. This
initiative is thought to be the strong
commitment of international community
to resolve Rohingya crisis. The
resolution
also
recognized
the
government’s efforts and investments in
building the facilities in Bhashan char for
relocation of a portion of the Rohingya
from the congested camps and in this
regard, also welcomed the pacts signed
by
Bangladesh
with
UNHCR.
Government has relocated some
Rohingyas to Bhashan char this year.
After 2017 more than one million
Rohingyas have taken shelter in
Bangladesh. This has created pressure on
the country. Besides, criminal activities
by the Rohingyas in the camps are
increasing day by day, which is threat to
rule of law. The situation is get to be
improved.
On 29 September, Rohingya leader
Mohibullah was killed in lambashia
camp in ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.
Mohibullah was vocal on safe
repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Media reported that, a group of
Rohingyas who are against repatriation
were giving threat to Mohibullah in the
camp. Besides, on 22 October, 07
Rohingya were killed by crossfire
between two groups of Rohingya
terrorists. This type of casualties
occurred in previous days also.