Bangladesh: Beating and arbitrary detention of religious minority students

On 31 January 1996 about 700 law enforcement personnel raided the Jagannath Hall, a Dhaka University hall of residence housing students from religious minorities. They destroyed the hall, beat the students severely and arbitrarily detained at least 95 people. Over 200 students were injured, at least 37 requiring hospital treatment. Opposition sources have claimed that the security forces acted because the majority of students there support the opposition party, the Awami League. Amnesty International is urging the authorities to set up impartial and independent investigations into this incident, and to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. Amnesty International is also calling for all charges to be dropped against those arrested during the police raid, who are now on conditional release. If redetained Amnesty International would regard them as prisoners of conscience.

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