Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it is concerned over the situations in a number of countries including Bangladesh, claiming these countries are not receiving the attention they require from the Human Rights Council.

‘Bangladesh has been hit by a series of violent attacks, culminating in the July 1 assault by armed militants on a café in central Dhaka. This was preceded by attacks on free expression and religious freedom: nearly 50 were killed including secularists, LGBT activists, and religious figures. Initially slow to respond, in reaction to rising international criticism authorities have arrested people seemingly arbitrarily and en masse. Many are being held secretly; some have been killed in raids’ said a HRW statement on 19 September.

‘Security forces have a long history of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, but the targeting of the political opposition has escalated in recent years. We are increasingly concerned at the lack of basic due process rights, particularly given a politicized judiciary, which hands down judgments leading to executions. We urge states to raise this situation at the Council and directly with the government.’