State agencies must be accountable to protect the rights of citizens

Human rights activists and organisations must actively protect individuals’ civil liberties in countries with poor human rights conditions. However, in Bangladesh, there are concerns about whether these groups can carry out their duties without fear. According to Article 11 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, “The Republic shall be a democracy in which fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human person shall be guaranteed.” It also stated that the government is responsible to protect the rights of the citizens on behalf of the State.

However, the findings from the recent research survey conducted by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) are concerning. The report states, a staggering 65 per cent of human rights workers faced obstacles in their work due to interference from state organisations and the ruling party. Reportedly, in 41 per cent of these instances, intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and government officials were responsible for hindering their efforts. Sadly, one in every ten human rights workers had to leave a particular place due to various threats and challenges.

The CGS, based on interviews with 50 grassroots human rights activists from 36 districts, prepared the report. Around 46 per cent of the activists mentioned that the human rights situation in the country has deteriorated. Additionally, 62 per cent expressed that the overall work environment is ‘unsafe and very unsafe.’ Export, who led the research, noted that some human rights activists avoided answering certain questions during the survey due to fear, indicating a prevalent culture of fear. Media also regularly highlights human rights abuses here.

Allegedly, in many cases, journalists, human rights activists, and opponent political leaders and activists are subjected to various forms of harassment. But this situation is not only unwarranted but also unusual in a state that was established through a nine-month liberation war, based on the principles of equality, social dignity, and justice. Regrettably, there have been instances where members of the administration and law enforcement have been involved in forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Despite objections raised by human rights organisations, the government policymakers did not take any heed.

With the United States imposed sanctions against RAB as an agency and seven of its officials due to human rights violations, the frequency of extrajudicial killings significantly reduced. Yet it cannot be claimed that the human rights situation has improved entirely, as deaths in police custody and the arbitrary use of digital security laws against dissent is still prevalent. The state agencies, funded by the people’s tax money, must be held accountable for their actions.