Odhikar
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অধিকার | |
 | |
| Formation | October 1994 |
|---|---|
| Type | Human rights NGO[1] |
| Focus | Human rights |
| Location |
|
| Method | Promote human rights through awareness building, documentation, fact finding, monitoring and research |
Secretary General | Adilur Rahman Khan |
| Leader | ASM Nasiruddin Elan |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | odhikar |
Odhikar (Bengali: অধিকার) is a Bangladesh-based human rights organization, that was founded in October 1994.[2] It is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).[3] It has been publishing an annual activity report since 2003.[4] Odhikar's work has been cited by Human Rights Watch in their 2011 World Report on Bangladesh.[5] The goal for establishing Odhikar was to develop human rights alertness and observing violations in Bangladesh.[6]
Publication of border death count
Odhikar published annual list of deaths along the Bangladesh–India border, raising anger from the pro-India government.
2013 Shapla Square protests
On 10 June 2013, Odhikar published a fact finding report on the 2013 Operation at Motijheel Shapla Chattar claiming 61 deaths,[7] but refused to provide any names of the victims report, citing security concerns for the families of the victims.[8] On 19 August 2024, they published the name of the deceased on their verified Facebook page.[9]
2018 revocation of observer status
On 11 November 2018, the pro-government newspaper Janakantha published an article written by Bibhash Baroi, which Odhikar called slanderous.[10] International Federation for Human Rights condemned the article saying:
The Observatory condemns in the strongest terms the politically-motivated attacks and accusations against Odhikar, which manifestly aim at discrediting its reputation and hindering its peaceful and legitimate human rights activities.
In November 2018, the Election Commission in Bangladesh annulled Odhikar's right to observe elections.[11]
