On August 25 2011, with little debate or public consultation, the Bangladeshi parliament passed the "Vagrants and Shelterless Persons Act 2011."

Under this law, police and magistrates will be authorized to arrest and detain suspected vagrants for up to two years in "Rehabilitation Centers."  If suspects leave these Centers, they can be jailed for up to three months.   

Bangladesh's Daily Star reports that the shelters "would be operated with money earned by the vagabonds themselves."  There are existing reports of torture and sexual abuse occurring in these Centers. 

It is estimated that at least seven million Bangladeshis would be defined as vagrants under this new law. 

Human rights organizations have declared the law  a violation of "the right to life, personal freedom, the freedom of occupation, and the right to human dignity"

Sign this petition to protest this radical violation of the rights of the poor!

We the undersigned urge you to repeal the "Vagrants and Shelterless Persons Act 2011."

As you know, under this law, police and magistrates will be authorized to arrest and detain suspected vagrants for up to two years in "Rehabilitation Centers."

According to the Daily Star, shelters "would be operated with money earned by the vagabonds themselves."  There are existing reports of torture and sexual abuse occurring in these Centers.

This is a  violation of the right to life, the right to personal freedom, the right to freedom of occupation, and the right to human dignity.  The campaign against poverty must not become a campaign against the poor.

Thank you for your time.