Human Rights in Bangladesh
Announcement
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:
Witnesses
Panel I
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The Honorable Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
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The Honorable Eric Biel, Acting Associate Deputy Undersecretary, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Department of Labor
Panel II
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Mr. Tim Ryan, Asia Regional Program Director, American Center for International Labor Solidarity
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Mr. John Sifton, Director, Asia Advocacy, Human Rights Watch
Testimonies
John Sifton, Human Rights in Bangladesh
Tim Ryan, Human Rights in Bangladesh
Transcript
Video
PART I: PANEL I
PART II: PANEL II
PART III: PANEL III