Signing of OPCAT , enacting custodial death prevention bill stressed

Human right activists and defenders in an advocacy meeting organised by ‘Odhikar’ on Sunday at Barisal stressed on signing Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) and enacting the bill for prevention of torture and custodial death.
The programme was organiesed by ‘Odhikar’, the human rights defending organization, at Bangladesh Development Society Auditorium in the city.
Sohag Kumar Biswas, facts finding officer of ‘Odhikar’ presented the keynotes , while Anisur Rahman Swapan, senior journalist and former president of Barisal Reporters Unity, conducted the discussion session participated by 62 participants from different classes and sections of the society.
The participants observed that the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) was adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 and entry into force 26 June 1987.
Bangladesh signed that on October 5, 1998 with note of descent on section 14 of the convention related with giving compensations to the descendants of the victim in spite of the law of the country.
The discussants urged the government to follow the decisions of the CAT withdrawing objection against section14.
On other hand the participants also called the government for ,immediate signing of OPCAT adopted on 18 December 2002 at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Signing of OPCAT is necessary to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and monitoring the execution of CAT by regular visiting the places custodies, they opined.
The speakers also urged to enact the bill passed on October 24, 2013 by Bangladesh parliament for prevention against torture and custodial death.
However they told that highest punishment with fine of the liable for torture and custodial death should be increased in the act and option should not be given for only paying fine.
In the general discussion the human rights defenders reaffirming that torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be prohibited as it constitute serious violations of human rights.
States have the primary responsibility for preventions of thosecrimes, they told.
They called to strengthen the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The human rights activists recalled that CAT obliged each State Party to take effective measures to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in any territory under its jurisdiction.
They opined that recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justiceand peace in the world.
They urged for strengthening the protection of people deprived of their liberty and the full respect for their human rights is a common responsibility shared by all.