Dhaka, Sept 2 (Representative) Close to two lakh people, mostly erstwhile ruling party Awami League leaders and activists have been booked in cases including killings since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, a rights body said here on Sunday. The Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) led by advocate Sultana Kamal reported that since the Awami League Government fell on August 5, more than 298 cases have been registered against 1.94 lakh individuals with primarily targeting Awami League leaders including the party president Sheikh Hasina. According to the daily star, approximately 100 cases are filed against ex Bangladeshi PM Hasina related to protesters deaths. The MSF published the report based on the media data and information from local human rights advocate. The MSF report analysed that 809 people lost their lives and around 33,0000 were wounded in the violent confrontations and firing by the law enforcement agency members. The report further said that as the student protest gathered support from all sections of Bangladesh and demanded resignation of PM Hasina.The enforcement agencies in order to supress the movement used force which resulted in violent clashes resulting in vandalisation of government property,houses,vehicles etc. In certain places the fire incidences too were reported where the victims were named as wrongdoers. MSF said it is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to provide protection to individuals in custody but the administration failed completely to do so.
The MSF also expressed concern over the attacks on former Justice AHM Shamshuddin Chowdhury Manik, Anisul Huq ex law minister and other accused in court premises. 23 incidents of political violence were reported in August with the death of 204 victim’s .out of which nine died and others wounded. The violence involved BNP-Awami League, Awami League infighting, and Jamaat and BNP confrontations. On August 5, Eight cases including three murder charges were filed against Journalist leading to the arrests of Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa of Ekattor news. Other journalists including former PM’S press secretary were named too in cases. MSF criticised the way journalists were prevented from performing their professional duties and considered it as an attack on transparency adding the need to protect the media freedom, democracy, honest journalism and freedom of speech.