South Asia Citizens Web

a short compilation of selected reports and commentary in the Bangladeshi and India Media

A video from Human Rights Watch, argues that the abusive system that locks up women and girls with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities in India should gave way to communities to take control. But it is precisely these so called communities that want the people locked up.

We, the undersigned journalists, writers, historians and activists from South Asia, are deeply concerned about the use of ‘contempt of court’ law to curb freedom of expression. The conviction and sentencing on December 2, 2014, of Dhaka-based journalist David Bergman by the International Crimes Tribunal 2 on charges of “contempt of court” for citing published research on killings during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, is a serious set-back to Bangladesh’s commitment to free speech and independent scholarship.

A series of steps taken by the government in the name of reforms lay bare its motive to saffronise education and educational institutions at all costs. By T.K. RAJALAKSHMI (Frontline 26 Dec 2014)

The recent tragic deaths of the 13 women, following procedures of laparoscopic sterilisation in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh, have flagged clear violations of ethical and quality norms in the health care system. Following these appalling incidents, a team of women’s and health rights activists from Sama, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan and National Alliance for Maternal Health and Human Rights from Delhi and Chhattisgarh initiated a fact finding towards exploring and unravelling the gross violations that had taken place.