STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The entire 2021 was frightening for rights activists, journalists, critics of the government and opposition party men, according to Ain o Salish Kendra.

The rights watchdog also said it was an agonising year particularly for the minorities.

“At least 204 idols, mandap or temples were attacked, and 184 households and 50 business establishments were vandalised and looted this year,” ASK said yesterday at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity where it unveiled its annual report.

In a statement, the ASK said Hindu people’s homes and holy sites were attacked, torched and looted in Cumilla, Chandpur, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chattogram and Bandarban during the Durga Puja.

The statement also said at least 210 journalists were harassed, including many prosecuted under the Digital Security Act (DSA).

The rights watchdog tracked at least six cases of enforced disappearance in 2021 and said the victims were later shown on documents as arrested in different cases.

There has been a case of alleged enforced disappearance where the person is still missing. The missing person, Imam Mahadi Hasan Dollar, from Mymensingh’s Fulbaria, was detained by a group of people in two motorcycles and a microbus, the ASK said in the statement.

According to the ASK report, at least 80 people became victims of extrajudicial killings last year. Fifty-one of them died in so-called shootout or crossfire with law enforcers.

The number was 188 the previous year.

The ASK prepared the report based on news items run by different media outlets in the country.

It said at least eight people were killed custody and six of them were reportedly tortured to death. One died before being arrested while the other had suffered a heart attack.

Besides, at least 81 people died in jail, ASK Secretary General Nur Khan said at the press conference.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Although incidents of rape and violence against women declined last year compared to the previous one, such incidents continued to remain a cause of concern.

The ASK report said at least 1,321 women were raped or gang-raped across the country last year. Of them, 47 were killed after rape and nine died by suicide.

This means over three women were raped every day on average.

However, the actual number may be higher as many incidents go unreported, it said.