Presidential Pardon of 20 of Prisoners on Death Row

Presidential Pardon of 20 of Prisoners on Death Row

Sep 20, 2010 | News Reports

On 7 September 2010, President Zillur Rahman pardoned 20 prisoners who had been sentenced to death. Amnesty International (AI) took this occasion to argue for the pardon of the over 1,000 prisoners remaining on death row in Bangladesh. AI explains how the sentencing of these 20 prisoners (accused of involvement in the death of a Bangladesh Nationalist Party activist) was illegitimate as the victim was an advocate for the party (the BNP) that was in power at the time. Concurrently AI considers that the pardoning of these prisoners is strictly political as it seems that all 20 prisoners are supporters of the current ruling party, the Awami League.

AI has serious issue with the political controversy surrounding the trial and pardon of these prisoners as it infers that some death row inmates may be denied valid pardons for political reasons. Furthermore, AI states that the death penalty violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As a result AI petitioned the President of Bangladesh to impose a moratorium on all executions in Bangladesh citing that it would be in line with a UN resolution that received majority support within the UN. These are attempts by AI to appeal to President Rahman based on his ability to garner international political support by bringing Bangladesh in line with AI’s belief that the death penalty, regardless of the reason, is cruel and inhuman. AI wants President Zillur Rahman to not only pardon and commute the sentences of current death row convicts, as well as impose a moratorium on future death sentences, but also re-open the investigation of the murder for which the original 20 prisoners were convicted.

The Story of Tea Workers Book Launched

The Story of Tea Workers Book Launched

Sep 5, 2010 | SEHD News

Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud, eminent economist and chief guest, formally launched the book at the VIP lounge of the National Press Club in Dhaka. In his introductory note Philip Gain, SEHD director and editor of the book, reflected on the challenging task of producing the book, a 44-minute documentary film and a photography exhibition.

Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud, eminent economist and chief guest formally launched the book at the VIP lounge of the National Press Club in Dhaka. In his introductory note Philip Gain, SEHD director and editor of the book, reflected on the challenging task of producing the book, a 44-minute documentary film and a photography exhibition.

Presided by SEHD chairman Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan, designated speakers who spoke at the discussion on the book and issues covered in it were Khushi Kabir, Prof. Amena Mohsin, cairman of the Minimum Wages Board,Ikteder Ahmed, member of Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA, organization of the tea estate owners) M Shah Alam, Adivasi leader Gidison Pradhan Suchiang, labor leaders Tapan Datta and Rambhajan Koiri.

Representatives from government and non-government organizations, tea workers, researchers, students, and journalists attended the launch.

The book, Story of the Tea Workers (Cha Sramiker Katha), is about the indentured tea plantation workers, one of the most marginalized and excluded communities of Bangladesh. The issues covered in this book include the history of the tea industry, the ownership of tea estates, socio-economic status of tea workers, their struggle for rights, their health and education status and laws relating to tea industry among others. In addition to information and analysis that is the result of years of investigation by SEHD staff, the book contains insightful write-ups tea industry by labor leaders, lawyers, physicians and government officials.