Bangladeshi Human rights activist and lawyer ZI Khan Panna has described 1975 as a period when the nation witnessed the key attacks on human rights, noting that the subsequent indemnity ordinance was the worst thing to see.  

“The key attack (on human rights) was in 1975. And nothing can be as worst as the indemnity ordinance,” he said while speaking at a discussion on human rights issues on Saturday (October 15, 2022). 

Editors Guild, Bangladesh, a platform of editors, organised the discussion held at the Dhaka Gallery in Banani in the capital.

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Just 41 days into the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, an indemnity ordinance was promulgated by Khandaker Moshtaque Ahmed, who grabbed state power immediately after the brutal killing by putting martial law in place.

The ordinance was issued on September 26, 1975 with an aim to block any legal or other proceedings against the killers and those who were involved in proclaiming martial law on the morning of August 15, 1975.

Panna also described the post-1975 development and how people were brutally tortured.

He claimed existence of “Aynaghar” in the post 1975 period and he was one of the victims of that. “There’re many victims,” he said, mentioning few names and brutal nature of tortures on them.

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Panna also highlighted the present situation, saying there are some failures. “I would say avoiding tendency, not limitations.”

He said the CHT peace treaty is the one of the best agreements without involvement of any third party or country.

The rights activist credited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for this.

Talking about the glorious War of Liberation, he said Bangladesh is a unique nation in world history.

Read: Bangabandhu Memorial Museum: Witness to History and Tragedy

The rights activist said nobody can show a country in the world except Bangladesh whose 30 lakh people sacrificed their lives in a period of 9 months. “You can’t show in world history. Bangladesh is a unique country.”

He said it was not a conventional war, but it was a people's war.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Professor Dr Mizanur Rahman, human rights activist Khushi Kabir, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, among others, spoke at the discussion on human rights issues moderated by Editors’ Guild President and Editor-in-Chief of Ekattor Television Mozammel Babu.

Read ASK September report paints grim picture of human rights in Bangladesh