Extrajudicial Killings
Lawmen go unpunished
Says HR Commission in its report for UN HR Council
Extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and torture by law enforcement agencies continue in the country with impunity, says a report on human rights conditions.
The report, prepared by the National Human Rights Commission, also says while child labour continues to be pervasive, indigenous people in the hills are losing their land.
All these issues require serious attention from all stakeholders, reads the draft report, presented by NHRC Chairman Mizanur Rahman at a two-day seminar at Sonargaon
Hotel in the capital yesterday.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni inaugurated the seminar, which was also addressed by United Nations Resident Coordinator Neal Walker and Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh
Svend Olling.
Addressing the session, Dipu Moni said there were deficiencies in addressing human rights issues in the country but the government was “trying its best to deal with
every aspect of human rights”.
Mizanur Rahman said the draft would be finalised after the seminar and handed over to the government before October 9. The report will also be submitted to the United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
In the report, the NHRC has recommended that the government focus on some key areas to improve the human rights situation.
The areas are institutional development, including strengthening the judiciary and ratification of international human rights treaties, socio-economic and cultural
rights, civil and political rights, women rights, child rights, persons with disability, indigenous people, refugees, religious and ethnic minorities and climate
change.
According to the report, the judiciary in the country is faced with a general lack of capacity. Resolution of cases is often very complex as the laws are outdated.
All these factors combine to make a system that does not deliver speedy, affordable and trusted outcomes.
The report suggests raising awareness and educating people on their rights to religious freedom and equality.
It also recommends developing a National Human Rights Action Plan.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
