Don`t ignore the UNHRC`s report : Be respectful to human rights and be with the people
THE UN Human Rights Council (HRC) has adopted a draft report on the human rights review of Bangladesh, with recommendations on taking steps to deter forced disappearances, extra judicial killings, and to ensure freedom of expression in media, politics and religion. During the 30th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group of the HRC at Geneva, the UN member states made 251 recommendations. Of the recommendations, 167 were accepted, 60 were noted and the rest would be answered later. Bangladesh will give its final official response no later than the 39th Session of the HRC, scheduled to be held in September.
However, it’s practically impossible to address so many recommendations at a given time so the government must give priority to the most important ones. More to it, it must commit to show concrete results on those recommendations at the 39th Session in September. However, since Bangladesh has agreed to examine the recommendations by the 39th Session of HRC so by now the government must have chalked down a work plan. Particularly, it agreed to investigate all allegations of human rights violations by the police and security forces and take legal steps so that those responsible for enforced disappearances, custodial tortures and extrajudicial killings are punished. The issue may be one of the most talked about topics in the country but we are eagerly waiting to see how the government would respond to Japan’s recommendation. Japan recommended for ensuring a free, fair and inclusive general election, with full participation of all parties, and stepping up efforts to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh.
Whatever the nature of the recommendations are, there is little room to remain optimistic that much would change since the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review failed to respond to pressing human rights concerns in the country.
It should not be any credit for the government that the United Nations will ask it to respect human right of our people guaranteed by our Constitution. We shall ask the government not be incompetent self-seekers. No development can be for the good of the people if the people are helpless about their human rights.
No government survives indefinitely with the power of corruption or police power. Recent events in Malaysia should be an eye-opener. The same police is now stopping the dislodged Prime Minister Najib from leaving the country and holding him accountable for corruption. His house is being searched in his presence and removing items of value. He will have to appear before the Anti-Corruption Commission he used against his opponents. The government that cannot rely on people is miserably punished when things change.
However, it’s practically impossible to address so many recommendations at a given time so the government must give priority to the most important ones. More to it, it must commit to show concrete results on those recommendations at the 39th Session in September. However, since Bangladesh has agreed to examine the recommendations by the 39th Session of HRC so by now the government must have chalked down a work plan. Particularly, it agreed to investigate all allegations of human rights violations by the police and security forces and take legal steps so that those responsible for enforced disappearances, custodial tortures and extrajudicial killings are punished. The issue may be one of the most talked about topics in the country but we are eagerly waiting to see how the government would respond to Japan’s recommendation. Japan recommended for ensuring a free, fair and inclusive general election, with full participation of all parties, and stepping up efforts to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh.
Whatever the nature of the recommendations are, there is little room to remain optimistic that much would change since the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review failed to respond to pressing human rights concerns in the country.
It should not be any credit for the government that the United Nations will ask it to respect human right of our people guaranteed by our Constitution. We shall ask the government not be incompetent self-seekers. No development can be for the good of the people if the people are helpless about their human rights.
No government survives indefinitely with the power of corruption or police power. Recent events in Malaysia should be an eye-opener. The same police is now stopping the dislodged Prime Minister Najib from leaving the country and holding him accountable for corruption. His house is being searched in his presence and removing items of value. He will have to appear before the Anti-Corruption Commission he used against his opponents. The government that cannot rely on people is miserably punished when things change.
