Odhikar, one of Bangladesh’s leading human rights NGOs (non-governmental organizations), has been selected as a runner-up for the U.S. State Department’s 2008 Freedom Defenders Award. This is the first time for any Bangladeshi organization or person to receive this award.
Besides being an advocacy group, Odhikar documents, monitors, investigates and researches human rights abuses, including custodial death, rape and torture, , violations of freedom of expression, political repression, and issues relating to national and local government elections.
It monitors national and local government elections for ensuring a free and fair electoral process.
Amir Khasru has more on the story.