Concern expressed over human rights (The Daily Star Editorial)

Editorial

Concern expressed over human rights

Uphold rule of law by all means

Human Rights Forum (HRF), a national coalition of 19 rights and development organizations, has portrayed a disquieting picture of the human rights situation. The statistics over the last four years of the AL-led Mohajote government speak for themselves: a total of 156 people have disappeared and 462 got killed in what is euphemistically called crossfire between 2009 and 2012. The figures work out to 39 'forced' disappearances and slightly above 115 extra-judicial killings respectively per year.

This is unacceptable in a democratic polity which should essentially be based on transparency and accountability of its institutions. Cloak-and-dagger policy usually associated with any 'specialised' agency in authoritarian rule is completely out of character with standard norms of democracy. If the government of the day should allow any agency of law enforcement to behave arbitrarily, sooner or later it would abuse power, almost becoming a law unto itself. Much that a major party before polls pledges to curb extra-judicial killings, it reneges on the pledge as soon as it comes to power.

This government stood committed to UNHCR that it would show zero tolerance to extra-judicial killings and to any kind of political repression but 'it did not keep its promises,' regretted HRF-Bangladesh president Sultana Kamal.

In the process, rule of law is undermined; public confidence in custodians of law diminishes; and a sense of insecurity is heightened among the people.

The importance of the HRF report lies in the fact that this has gone to UNHCR to be tabled for discussion in the UN rights body's Geneva meet early next year where the government would be required to respond to the analysis and observations made in a home grown report with inputs from a plethora of rights and development organisations. The international human rights organisations have from time to time expressed their concern over human rights situation in Bangladesh. Now, a national human rights forum in addition to the NHRC has given its perspective which is no different from what has already become public knowledge in terms of human rights issues.

It is time the government addressed the concerns with all the seriousness these deserve.

[Note: The name of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is confused with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)].

Source: The Daily Star, Dhaka; 18 November 2012; link: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=257865