Annual Report 2016 Chapter 2 Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh The global scenario on Human Rights in 2016 was not satisfactory. Bangladesh was no exception. The year witnessed `both the incidences of human rights violations and some improvement in upholding human rights. Bangladesh has been recognized both nationally and globally for accomplishing most of the targets of MDGs. There has been remarkable achievement in poverty alleviation, advancement in education, lessening the death rates of mothers and children. government which helped promote human rights. But some incidents baffled common people which posed considerable threat to human rights. Some of the leading incidents inter alia are described below: Violence in the Name of Religion The militants attacked Holy Artisan Restaurant of Gulshan, Dhaka on the night of 01 July, 2016 where nine Italians, seven Japanese, five Bangladeshis and one Indian national were brutally killed. Even two police officers had to sacrifice their lives in the encounter with the terrorists. Army commandos were deployed within the shortest possible time and ultimately they came out successful in defeating the militants in a rescue operation.1 The year also witnessed some measures taken by government to improve rule of law and other related factors that affect social security, economic growth, standard of living, democratic values and human rights. Amid these achievements, the attacks on minority communities, women and children, militant attacks on bloggers, killings at the borders by the BSF and the horrible incidence of “Holy Artisan Attack” were among the big concerns. A bomb-attack was made by some young terrorists in the largest Eid congregation in the country at the Sholakia Eidgah Maidan of Kishoreganj district on last 07 July, 2016 on. Around 9 o’clock in the morning, some youths with bags in their hands tried to cross the check post but being interrogated and hindered by a duty police they began to detonate the bombs. Then the police Due to lacking in requisite manpower, in fact, the Commission found it difficult to carry on with a scientific or suitable study as to ascertain the Human Rights situation for the period 2016. That is why, in this Annual Report some abruptly occurred incidences around social arena along with some positive steps by government are described here to pave the way for readers to understand and estimate about the human rights situation in their own way. In 2016, there were some leading case decisions by the apex court of Bangladesh and some positive initiatives of 1 The Daily Star, 02 July 2016. Available at- http://www. thedailystar.net/frontpage/dhaka-attack/blood-shock-horror1249471 6