Odhikar
Odhikar () is a Bangladesh-based human rights organization that was founded in October 1994. It is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). It has been publishing an annual activity report since 2003. Odhikar's work has been cited by Human Rights Watch in their 2011 World Report on Bangladesh. The goal for establishing Odhikar was to develop human rights alertness and observing violations in Bangladesh. 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, but refused to provide any names of the victims report, citing security concerns for the families of the victims. 2018 revocation of observer status On November 11, 2018, the newspaper Janakantha published an article written by Bibhash Baroi which Odhikar called slanderous. In November 2018, the Election Commission in Bangladesh annulled Odhikar to be an observer on elections. 2022 deregistration In 2014, Odhikar applied to renew its registration as a non-governmental organisation. After delaying processing the application for years, on 5 June 2022 the NGO Affairs Bureau of the Bangladeshi government officially denied the application, stating that Odhikar's publications had "seriously tarnished the image of [Bangladesh] to