Torture in Lawful Custody: Violation of United Nations Convention against Torture in Criminal Justice System in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper emphasizes on the effective implementation of United Nation Convention against Torture in Bangladesh because torture is a common scenario in the country right now, especially in lawful custody as a part of criminal justice system. Everyday this inhuman practice is taking place in Bangladesh which is not expected because torture represents the uncivilized human society. This practice must be stopped in every modern welfare state like Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh has ratified the “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984” and accordingly passed Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act in 2013 in its parliament but the Act has failed to fulfill the objectivity of UN Torture Convention. Torture is frequently practised in lawful custody mostly by Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and other law enforcement agencies. Moreover, the government has not been able to take any step to compensate and rehabilitate the victims. Several human rights organizations are involved in Bangladesh to work against such malpractices as now it is a much talked issue in the civil society along with these organizations. There is no rigorous and comprehensive study in this field. This study is a very time bound exposition in the proposed field.