Bangladesh witnessed diminishing democratic space in 2015: EU

Dhaka [Bangladesh], Sept. 21 (ANI): The European Union in its annual human rights report said that Bangladesh witnessed a diminishing democraticspace and steady deterioration in civil and political rights in 2015. The annual human rights report titled EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2015, said that extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and restrictive action against opposition and human rights activists also increased during this period. "Intimidation of journalists and editors also increased, while measures were taken to undermine the economic viability of some prominent newspapers," the Daily Star quoted the report as saying. The reports also pointed out about the threat of rising religious extremism in the country. "The killings of four 'atheist' bloggers and one publisher in 2015 proved that the country was not immune to the threat of rising religious extremism. The deteriorating situation was underlined by the killings of two foreign citizens," the reports said. However, it pointed out that some progress was achieved on social and economic rights. (ANI)