UNB, Dhaka :
Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Dr Mizanur Rahman on Tuesday said that denial of one’s right to food is the denial of one’s human rights.
“A hungry man is an angry man, and it is simply because he feels humiliated and insulted because of his hunger. Denying one’s right to food is denying one’s human rights as well,” he told a function in the capital.
Oxfam and Hunger Free World jointly organised a mock youth parliament on ‘Right to Food’ at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of the Dhaka University as part of the ongoing ‘Right to Food Campaign’.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mizanur Rahman said the right to food does not mean the right to be fed. “It is more about creating opportunities to ensure availability of food and financial capability of the people. That’s economic development, in true sense.”
He said, the Proclamation of Independence, signed on 10 April 1971, has one clause that emphasised ensuring equality, social justice and human dignity as one of the reasons for the Liberation War, and these three combined form the core of human rights as well.
“The government’s fundamental responsibility is to ensure safe and nutritious food for the people.”
To ensure right to food, the NHRC chief said, a concrete work plan should be worked out with clear instructions on the distribution of food.
“We cannot achieve our rights without performing our duties. The government and the individuals of the state have to perform their duties to ensure the rights, including the right to food,” he added.
The mock Youth Parliament on Right to Food has urged the government to consider protecting the citizen’s right to food in the Constitution as a fundamental right.
The day’s mock youth parliament sought to create awareness on the need for judicial safeguards on right to food and at the same time, engage youths of Bangladesh in the larger campaign, since youths constitute one-third of the country population.
Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Dr Mizanur Rahman on Tuesday said that denial of one’s right to food is the denial of one’s human rights.
“A hungry man is an angry man, and it is simply because he feels humiliated and insulted because of his hunger. Denying one’s right to food is denying one’s human rights as well,” he told a function in the capital.
Oxfam and Hunger Free World jointly organised a mock youth parliament on ‘Right to Food’ at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of the Dhaka University as part of the ongoing ‘Right to Food Campaign’.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mizanur Rahman said the right to food does not mean the right to be fed. “It is more about creating opportunities to ensure availability of food and financial capability of the people. That’s economic development, in true sense.”
He said, the Proclamation of Independence, signed on 10 April 1971, has one clause that emphasised ensuring equality, social justice and human dignity as one of the reasons for the Liberation War, and these three combined form the core of human rights as well.
“The government’s fundamental responsibility is to ensure safe and nutritious food for the people.”
To ensure right to food, the NHRC chief said, a concrete work plan should be worked out with clear instructions on the distribution of food.
“We cannot achieve our rights without performing our duties. The government and the individuals of the state have to perform their duties to ensure the rights, including the right to food,” he added.
The mock Youth Parliament on Right to Food has urged the government to consider protecting the citizen’s right to food in the Constitution as a fundamental right.
The day’s mock youth parliament sought to create awareness on the need for judicial safeguards on right to food and at the same time, engage youths of Bangladesh in the larger campaign, since youths constitute one-third of the country population.
