Says HR commission chief
The recent rise in mob-violence including the one that killed six students on Monday is the direct social impact of continuous extrajudicial killings, said National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman.
“That is why we have been saying that you cannot continue extra-judicial killing,” Rahman said while inaugurating a five-day training programme titled “Learning rights to make a difference” in the capital yesterday.
“People are taking law in their own hand with an impression that they are working for greater interest of the society,” he observed.
The NHRC chief also referred to another news report on a private television channel that showed a woman was being beaten up with sticks while hundreds of onlookers were seeing it as if they were enjoying.
“Mass media has a pivotal role to play in developing the concept of human rights in the society,” Rahman said. He also emphasised the importance of preventing criminalisation of mass media.
The incidents of students being killed in mob beating is not a new one as two rights organisations–Ain O Shalish Kendra and Odhikar–reported that over 70 people were killed in mob beating in the first half of this year.
Drik organised the training programme in collaboration with Internews Network, an international media development organisation.
Shahidul Alam, managing director of Drik, said “With Bangladesh gaining geopolitical importance, many forces are at play and human rights violations have dramatically escalated with perpetrators operating with impunity”.
“Trained journalists will play a vital role in challenging the abuse of power,” he added.
The programme, also attended by Palestinian human rights activist and journalist Omar Barghouti through a video conference, will train twenty journalists.
It will also help attendees develop their multimedia skill.
-With The Daily Star input
