Human Rights in Bangladesh

Date:

Thu, 07/19/2012 - 1:00 PM

Location:

B-318 Rayburn House Office Building

Hearing Notice

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on human rights in Bangladesh.

Although Bangladesh’s government has taken some steps to improve the human rights situation within its borders, new allegations of torture, arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearances by police continue to emerge. Violence against women, including rape, dowry-related assaults, acid attacks and sexual harassment also continue. All of these abuses are compounded by widespread impunity in Bangladesh for criminal behavior committed by elements of a security force called the Rapid Action Battalion.

In addition to assessing the alarming rise in enforced disappearances and excessive force and violence used by security forces, this hearing will examine restrictions on religious freedom and labor rights violations including threats to labor activists and the use of child labor.

If you have any questions, please contact the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at 202-225-3599 or tlhrc@mail.house.gov.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

Witnesses

Panel I

The Honorable Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Eric Biel, Acting Associate Deputy Undersecretary, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Department of Labor

Panel II

Mr. Tim Ryan, Asia Regional Program Director, American Center for International Labor Solidarity
Written testimony
Mr. John Sifton, Director, Asia Advocacy, Human Rights Watch
Written testimony

Bios

Meeting Documents

Transcript

Video

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.