“People’s right to life should be maintained”, says National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque. The ongoing drive should be targeted to find out those involved in narcotics trade, patronising it or promoting its use and legal action has to be taken against them, he said. These issues need to be considered when law-enforcing agencies conduct drives. They should never kill anyone even when the offence is proved, rather should bring the perpetrator to book, the NHRC Chief said.
Hoque said police should follow their rules and regulations in all cases. “If they are forced to encounter criminals, law-enforcement agents should do it within the purview of law.” He also demanded investigation into each of the deaths in ‘gun battles during drives’. Even the one that happened in Cox’s Bazar should have been investigated by a magistrate to see in which context they had fired their weapons. Right to life is a basic right which should be upheld at all times, Hoque said.
The NHRC Chief also said they have written to the Home Minister highlighting the related laws and urged him to ensure that no innocent person gets their human rights violated. The chairman said they will keep on advocating with the government agencies for ensuring human rights, when asked if any change has happened in the government’s role following the Commission’s activities.
One of the NHRC’s main functions is to enquire into the violation or possible violation of human rights and to resolve the issue through mediation and conciliation. According to him he has no power to do anything besides assist, inform, carry out publicity and research, and advise the government. This is a docile and servile view of the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission. He should not be another obliging bureaucrat too anxious to retain his job.
Everybody knows he cannot be a substitute for the government. But his responsibility to save life being taken unconstitutionally should have been a matter of deep conscience not to watch such brutal violation of the constitutional right to life.
He did not even think of verifying the stories of gun confrontation and crossfire. He lacks courage and human conscience for the position of the Chairman of Human Rights Commission.
Unfortunately making statements and writing letters to the Home Minister were not enough when helpless people were being killed like street dogs.
Please resign to show the world that we have no patriots who hold responsible public positions but do not obliged to save people’s lives when eliminated unlawfully. Helplessness is not acceptable as a safe excuse on a matter of life and death.
We all cannot prove that we are unfit to be responsible citizens of a free country. We are just servile. Such docility not to take seriously what is right in public affairs is also not the way to help the government.
