Staff Reporter :
Eminent citizens of the country on Saturday called for forming a Judicial Probe Commission to inquire into the incidents of enforced disappearance, abduction and extra-judicial killings for justice.
“These incidents obviously have appalled the people. As such, judicial probe commission and greater unity among the citizens are a vanguard,” they said.
The eminent citizens said this at a press conference in the VIP Lounge of the Jatiya Press Club organised by the newly formed citizen’s platform Nagorik Nirapotta Jote.
Shamsul Huda, Executive Director of Association for Land Reform and Development, said that about 118 persons were killed in “so-called gunfights” with the members of law enforcement agencies from January to April this year in the country.
As many as 354 women and 234 children were raped with 144 children being killed and 171 tortured, he said.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, even after nearly five decades of the country’s independence, people have to struggle for their basic rights.
“The environment which is required for protecting the people’s basic rights has been tainted and its worrisome part is “our institutional weaknesses”, he said.
Widespread partisanship has taken place in democratic and state-owned institutions where corruption increased alarmingly and lack of good governance is also evident, he added.
“As a result, the institutions failed to demonstrate their professional skills and responsibilities,” he further said.
There is still ambiguity over whether provision 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act still exists, he said.
Because of the Digital Security Act, people’s freedom of expression, opportunity to be part of the development process and the chance for making the government accountable have gone completely, he added.
Addressing the press conference, noted rights activist Hameeda Hossain said there should be a acceptable relationship between the government and the citizens by which “People can openly understand in which direction the government is heading for.”
Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Koro, among the noted citizen, also spoke at the press conference.
