UNB, Dhaka :
Voicing displeasure over the weak law of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), its Chairman Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman on Monday said human rights become the casualties in Bangladesh due to weak rule of law.
“When there’s no rule of law or very weak rule of law, human rights become the casualties. And that’s the case right now in Bangladesh. We can’t hide it from anyone. That’s the reality,” he told a seminar in the city emphasising necessary changes in the NHRC law.
Prof Rahman said all must acknowledge the reality as he thinks only by recognising the problems ‘we can try to overcome the problems.’
The NHRC chief made the comment while addressing a seminar titled ‘Australia and Bangladesh: Sharing Experiences in Protection of Human Rights’ at Brac Centre Inn.
Differentiating the situation in Australia and that in Bangladesh, he said it would be better to term it ‘contrastive comparison’ “Because you (Australia) are a society where you’ve the rule of law. We’re a society, where…I don’t know, if at all there is, it’s a very weak rule of law.”
Australian High Commission in Dhaka arranged the seminar conducted by Murray Kellam.
Constitutional expert Dr Kamal Hossain, Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Greg Wilcock, Dan O’Gorman, Supreme Court advocate Barrister Tania Amir, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust Director Sara Hossain, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Law Minister Anisul Huq was scheduled to address the closing session of the seminar in the afternoon.
Responding to the common observation that the NHRC is a weak institution, Prof Rahman said, “Law is weak but we’re strong. I would say very humbly, no. The founding Act of the NHRC is weak but the commission is not weak. The commission is very strong.”
He said, the strength of the commission has been demonstrated time and again but admitted that there are some legislative obstacles for what they can not do certain tasks.
“That’s not the problems of the NHRC, that’s the problem of the whole nation, that’s the problem of legislature, problems of the founding Act itself,” said the national rights body chief.
Apparently responding to criticisms, he said, “Unfortunately, we live in a society of such confrontational political culture that everything and anything is always evaluated and assessed on the basis of political barometer.”
Nonetheless, he said, the common man on the streets now looks at the NHRC as an institution which is independent in true sense of the term. “And that independence we’re committed to maintaining. We’re committed to moving forward.”
He claimed that they have had bad days, problems, and hindrances, but today he finds that NHRC is welcomed by people. “Today, I find whenever there’s a violation of human rights in any corner of the country; people ring me at midnight or early morning, and ask me to send someone from the NHRC.”
Prof Rahman said people are now getting that touch of NHRC which is a very ‘soft, very caring and protective one.
He said, they have made recommendations to the President seeking his intervention to make necessary changes in the law to help the NHRC play far more effective role than it is playing today. “We don’t know when the law will be amended. Under the existing situation, we’re tying to find ways and means,” he added.
Describing the limitation of the NHRC law, he said the NHRC is barred from investigating or inquiring human rights violation committed even by the police though 90 percent of the complaints are against law enforcing agencies.
He said a special desk in the home ministry has been created to deal with all the queries from the NHRC and today the rate of response from the government authorities are much faster. “Things are improving, things are developing.”
Prof Rahman also expressed displeasure over poor manpower and resources of the commission. “We’ve only 28 positions; eight are capable of making intellectual contribution. Tell me how it can function effectively.”
India has 600 plus staff, Afghanistan 300 plus, Nepal 300 plus and the Maldives 200 plus staff against 28 in Bangladesh.
He said more civil society members should be included in the selection committee they have already made a recommendation to the government that all the members need to be full-timers.
Dr Kamal also favoured more resources for the NHRC to help it work more effectively.
Voicing displeasure over the weak law of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), its Chairman Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman on Monday said human rights become the casualties in Bangladesh due to weak rule of law.
“When there’s no rule of law or very weak rule of law, human rights become the casualties. And that’s the case right now in Bangladesh. We can’t hide it from anyone. That’s the reality,” he told a seminar in the city emphasising necessary changes in the NHRC law.
Prof Rahman said all must acknowledge the reality as he thinks only by recognising the problems ‘we can try to overcome the problems.’
The NHRC chief made the comment while addressing a seminar titled ‘Australia and Bangladesh: Sharing Experiences in Protection of Human Rights’ at Brac Centre Inn.
Differentiating the situation in Australia and that in Bangladesh, he said it would be better to term it ‘contrastive comparison’ “Because you (Australia) are a society where you’ve the rule of law. We’re a society, where…I don’t know, if at all there is, it’s a very weak rule of law.”
Australian High Commission in Dhaka arranged the seminar conducted by Murray Kellam.
Constitutional expert Dr Kamal Hossain, Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Greg Wilcock, Dan O’Gorman, Supreme Court advocate Barrister Tania Amir, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust Director Sara Hossain, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Law Minister Anisul Huq was scheduled to address the closing session of the seminar in the afternoon.
Responding to the common observation that the NHRC is a weak institution, Prof Rahman said, “Law is weak but we’re strong. I would say very humbly, no. The founding Act of the NHRC is weak but the commission is not weak. The commission is very strong.”
He said, the strength of the commission has been demonstrated time and again but admitted that there are some legislative obstacles for what they can not do certain tasks.
“That’s not the problems of the NHRC, that’s the problem of the whole nation, that’s the problem of legislature, problems of the founding Act itself,” said the national rights body chief.
Apparently responding to criticisms, he said, “Unfortunately, we live in a society of such confrontational political culture that everything and anything is always evaluated and assessed on the basis of political barometer.”
Nonetheless, he said, the common man on the streets now looks at the NHRC as an institution which is independent in true sense of the term. “And that independence we’re committed to maintaining. We’re committed to moving forward.”
He claimed that they have had bad days, problems, and hindrances, but today he finds that NHRC is welcomed by people. “Today, I find whenever there’s a violation of human rights in any corner of the country; people ring me at midnight or early morning, and ask me to send someone from the NHRC.”
Prof Rahman said people are now getting that touch of NHRC which is a very ‘soft, very caring and protective one.
He said, they have made recommendations to the President seeking his intervention to make necessary changes in the law to help the NHRC play far more effective role than it is playing today. “We don’t know when the law will be amended. Under the existing situation, we’re tying to find ways and means,” he added.
Describing the limitation of the NHRC law, he said the NHRC is barred from investigating or inquiring human rights violation committed even by the police though 90 percent of the complaints are against law enforcing agencies.
He said a special desk in the home ministry has been created to deal with all the queries from the NHRC and today the rate of response from the government authorities are much faster. “Things are improving, things are developing.”
Prof Rahman also expressed displeasure over poor manpower and resources of the commission. “We’ve only 28 positions; eight are capable of making intellectual contribution. Tell me how it can function effectively.”
India has 600 plus staff, Afghanistan 300 plus, Nepal 300 plus and the Maldives 200 plus staff against 28 in Bangladesh.
He said more civil society members should be included in the selection committee they have already made a recommendation to the government that all the members need to be full-timers.
Dr Kamal also favoured more resources for the NHRC to help it work more effectively.
