The government may be able to arrange police protection to the lucky ones. The disturbing question is what we have done to make life safe and secure for others?
One has to think how pathetic is the failure of human rights NGOs that an eminent NGO chief who prides herself as a champion of human rights activist had to seek from the government security for protection of her life. We have a few hundred NGOs operating in Bangladesh yet our human rights situation is most uncertain and unprotected.
To mention her name is not important. Because most of the human rights NGOs suffer from same kind of indifference. They have been ignoring the need for creating conditions for making life safe and secure for all.
We condemn threats to their lives. Security of life is the most important human rights every government must ensure. Our Constitution also guarantees safety and dignity of life to all. The real crisis lies with the big NGOs which are not seen as much of a help to the general public for protecting human rights. Some of them are pro-government taking advantages from the government in different forms including providing services in return for money.
These NGOs do not fight the government for human rights violations. In fact violation of human rights is good for justifying their existence to get funds from foreign donors. Some of them manage also to get endorsement from the United Nations for enjoying elevated position within the country.
The people are living in constant fear of uncertainty of law enforcement. This is being said by everybody other than those in power.
The police are all powerful. But the criminals have no fear in committing serious crimes like murder, rape, extortion or forced disappearance. There is no need for law for police cases against an opponent of the government. Easily 30/40 cases can be lodged against one person where none should be filed.
Generalisation always looks unfair because there are minuscule few NGO activists who suffered imprisonment for taking up the cause of serious human rights breaches. But not the big ones favoured by the government. We have pro-government NGOs supporting their kind of politics.
If the courts can give remedy for human rights violations it makes no difference who goes to court. There is no need for foreign financed international NGOs. This much should be clear. If the courts can give relief there is no bravery to go to court. It is the courts that need to be brave.
It is common knowledge that the institutional position for upholding the rule of law has nearly collapsed in Bangladesh. But the NGOs do not care to use their right knowledge or right mind to make human rights safe.
They are unmindful of the importance of the independence of the judiciary so essential for the rule of law and protection of human rights. They keep quiet about the deteriorating conditions of the rule of law.
On the whole the human rights cannot be safe where democracy is systematically eliminated. The situation of democracy has become such that free election, the foundation of human rights, is easily denied. The recent election robbery for the parliament went unnoticed by the NGOs.
It is most unfortunate that the Trump administration does not much care about the core American values such as democracy and human rights. Venezuela is an example of how the army can be bought to be against the people and how Russia is militarily supportive in saving dictator Maduro against popular uprising.
