To establish the rule of law and democracy in the country, the government must come up with a specific action plan, incorporating suggestions from stakeholders on human rights issues.
This was the opinion of rights activists at a national seminar on the 2nd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review on Bangladesh, organised by the Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) at the BIAM auditorium in the city on Monday. The rights defenders urged the government to keep its political commitment to establish human rights. They said the government should seriously seek suggestions, advice and recommendations from various stakeholders in the country.
They observed that a section of government officials always takes a stand against human rights. They should change their mindset.
They further observed that important organs of the state, such as Parliament, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Information Commission, have become weak institutions as they have to work under various risks.
The rights activists suggested that the government should review the work of the administration and the judiciary should be kept out of political influence. They said the media and civil society should keep the government under a critical watch.
The seminar was inaugurated by Sultana Kamal, executive director of the Ain o Salish Kendra(ASK) and a former adviser of the caretaker government.
It was addressed by Dr Shah Alam, member, Law Commission, Dr Ifekharuzzaman, executive director, Transparency International Bangladesh(TIB), Ayesha Khanam, president, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad(BMP), Shahin Anam, member, HRFB, Saida Muna Tasneem, DG UN, ministry of foreign affairs, and others.
Sultana Kamal said all segments of society should come forward to eliminate violence and impunity.
“If we want that information relating to human rights is included in school textbooks, it is the government which has to come forward.”
Dr Shah Alam observed that bureaucracy often misleads the government not to sign any treaty or conventions relating to human rights.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, also a member of the HRFB, said governments should keep their political commitment towards establishing human rights. And as Bangladesh is a member-state of the UN Human Rights Council, they must develop policy and institutional structures, the TIB director observed. Saida Muna Tasneem said: “Whether it is the government or the state, when it is kept under pressure by civil society, there is scope for further progress, being accountable to the people,” she said.
She explained details of the 16th session of the UNHRC’s 2nd cycle on Universal Periodic Review where foreign minister Dipu Moni represented Bangladesh. It took place on April 29. Referring to the recommendations which were not accepted by Dipu Moni, she said due to judicial and legal barriers she was not able to accept certain recommendations on abolition of death penalty and relations between the same sex.
Talking about the limitation of the ministry of MOFA, Saida Muna Tasneem further said that due to lack of capacity building and inadequate resources they are unable to deliver the expected results. She called for a partnership between MOFA, the National Human Right Commission, civil society and other organisations..
The DG,UN noted that her ministry gave importance to national stakeholders.
-With The Independent input
