Odhikar was formed in 1994 and it has been diligently working to protect and promote the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of the people since its inception. Odhikar, being an organisation of human rights defenders in Bangladesh, has always been consistent in creating mass awareness of human rights by several means, including reporting violations perpetrated by the State and advocacy and campaign to ensure internationally recognised civil and political rights of citizens.
We unconditionally stand by the victims of oppression and maintain no prejudice with regard to their political leanings or ideological orientation. Odhikar firmly believes that all victims of human rights violations are in dire need of protection and deserve justice. Thus it advocates for establishing protection and justice for victims of human rights abuses.
Rule of an authoritarian regime has been in operation in the country and as an impact of such governance, human rights violations continued in an endemic form in 2017. Odhikar consistently monitors the human rights situation of Bangladesh and releases a status report every month. The key strengths of Odhikar are the human rights defenders associated with it across the country and human rights organisations around the world. The monthly reports are produced based on Odhikar’s own fact finding, information collection and reports sent by associated local human rights defenders across the country; and information and statistics published in different mass media. The annual report of 2017 is the outcome of a compilation and analysis of the monthly human rights situation monitoring reports published every month in 2017.
While working on human rights activities, Odhikar has been facing severe repression and harassment by the government since 2013. The Organisation has released this annual human rights report of 2017, in accordance with international standards by analyzing incidents of human rights abuses, despite the persecution and continuous harassment and threats to its existence. Odhikar is deeply grateful to all the human rights defenders, partners and well-wishers at home and abroad who are supporting us to continue our work and show their solidarity with Odhikar, which strengthens our mission in difficult times.