Staff Reporter :
Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mizanur Rahman came
under salvoes of criticism from senior government ministers for blaming the government for failing to ensure the safety to members of the minority communities.
In remarks at a meeting yesterday in the city he also blamed police for filing cases against hundred of unnamed people accusing them of attacks on members of minority community terming it as ‘case business’ to led the minister to be more angry on him.
The ministers were critical, since NHRC chairman remarks were pointer to involvement of ruling party men. The Ministers blamed him for making comments which visibly go in favour BNP-Jamaat while injurious to the government.
UNB adds: Two ministers have come down hard on National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rahman on Friday after he criticised the government on security of religious minorities.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim also questioned Rahman’s political ideology at the biennial conference of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad at Dhaka University.
In his speech, Rahman had said cases accusing unnamed people in recent communal attacks were lodged only for ‘business’. Nasim and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed both reacted sharply, saying the remark would only go in favour of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. The NHRC chief said the Bangladesh government had failed to provide security to the minority communities and justice over the attacks on them in October and November last year. An anti-independence quarter was torturing the minorities, he said.
Addressing the ministers at the programme, “I would like to tell the influential ministers of the government that during our spot visits the Human Rights Commission found out that only a handful of people were named in the cases over the communal attacks, but unnamed hundreds or thousands were accused.”
“The cases were filed like this for business, not to find the perpetrators. This kind of business with people’s security must be stopped,” Mizanur Rahman said. Health Minister Nasim addressing the event said it was clear to everyone who were behind those attacks.
“Someone just left after giving his speech, but he did not say anything against those who were involved in the communal attacks,” he said.
“Why did he not say anything? Because they (the attackers) are the power holders. They provide financial backing to them,” Nasim said, clearly referring to Rahman.
The Awami League Presidium member said this kind of remarks could only increase the heat and do nothing effective.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed also took a dig at the NHRC Chairman for his comments. “Someone gave his speech addressing the ministers here. But he did not even mention the names of those involved in the communal violence.” “That’s where the difference is between the intellectuals of us and BNP-Jamaat. They don’t say anything clearly, which only goes in favour of BNP and Jamaat.”
The government would surely bring the culprits to justice, assured the ruling party Advisory Council member.
Earlier, one of the Sector Commanders of 1971 Liberation War CR Dutta had inaugurated the biennial conference of the Puja Udjapon Parishad.
