Independent rights group Ain O Salish Kendra today said 2018 marked the highest number of extrajudicial killings in history, numbering at 466.
Among them, 292 were during anti-narcotics drive alone that began since May and pursued until the national election in December 30, it said.
In 2017, the number of such killings amounted to 162, the group’s ASK's Executive Director Sheepa Hafiza said on rights situation of Bangladesh.
“The extra-judicial killings in the name of drive against drugs should be investigated to find out whether any innocent person was killed,” she said.
“The overall human right situation was concerning,” she added.
Excerpts from Ain O Salish Kendra’s rights situation analysis in 2018:
732 incidents of rape; 63 murder and 7 suicides after rape
1,011 children abused; 283 murder and 108 suicides after abuse
67 people killed in political violence
Election violence killed 34: Awami League 19, BNP 4 and 10 commoners
Regarding the incident of rape of women and children, Sheepa Hafiza said: "We haven't seen effective trial and punishment that is why these crimes are recurring."
A combined effort from the government and the general people is required to create a culture of human rights in the country, she added.
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