Human Rights
‘Worst violation of human rights took place in 1975’
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.
Read PM: During BNP’s regime, human rights were violated at every step
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.
Read UN experts seek more help for human rights defenders in push for accountability in Myanmar
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
5 things to know about the Nobel prizes
The beginning of October means Nobel Prize season. Six days, six prizes, new faces from around the globe added to the world’s most elite roster of scientists, writers, economists and human rights leaders.
This year’s Nobel season kicks off Monday with the medicine award, followed by daily announcements: physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday and the economics award on Oct. 10.
Here are five other things to know about the coveted prizes:
WHO CREATED THE NOBEL PRIZES?
The prizes in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, a wealthy Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite. The first awards were handed out in 1901, five years after Nobel’s death.
Each prize is worth 10 million kronor (nearly $900,000) and will be handed out with a diploma and gold medal on Dec. 10 -- the date of Nobel’s death in 1896.
The economics award — officially known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel — wasn’t created by Nobel, but by Sweden’s central bank in 1968.
Between 1901 and 2021, the Nobel Prizes and the prize in economic sciences have been awarded 609 times.
WHO KNOWS WHO WILL WIN AND WHY?
The Nobel statutes prohibit the judges from discussing their deliberations for 50 years. So it’s probably going to be a while before we know for sure how judges made their picks for 2022 and who was on their short lists.
The judges try hard to avoid dropping hints about the winners before the announcements, but sometimes word gets out. Bookies in Europe sometimes offer odds on possible peace prize and literature Nobel winners.
WHO CAN NOMINATE A CANDIDATE?
Thousands of people around the world are eligible to submit nominations for the Nobel Prizes.
They include university professors, lawmakers, previous Nobel laureates and the committee members themselves.
Although the nominations are kept secret for 50 years, those who submit them sometimes announce their suggestions publicly, particularly for the Nobel Peace Prize.
WHAT ABOUT THE NORWEGIAN CONNECTION?
The Nobel Peace Prize is presented in Norway while the other awards are handed out in Sweden. That’s how Alfred Nobel wanted it.
His exact reasons are unclear but during his lifetime Sweden and Norway were joined in a union, which was dissolved in 1905. Sometimes relations have been tense between the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, which manages the prize money, and the fiercely independent peace prize committee in Oslo.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN A NOBEL?
Patience, for one.
Scientists often have to wait decades to have their work recognized by the Nobel judges, who want to make sure that any breakthrough withstands the test of time.
That’s a departure from Nobel’s will, which states that the awards should endow “those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind.” The peace prize committee is the only one that regularly rewards achievements made in the previous year.
According to Nobel’s wishes, that prize should go to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
MSF's September report makes for grim reading on overall rights situation
Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF), noted rights advocate Sultana Kamal's latest outfit to protect and promote human rights, expressed deep concern over an increase in human rights violations across the country on Friday.
The organisation also strongly condemned the alleged inaction of the government to prevent incidents of human rights violations.
In its monthly report, the MSF said at least three people were killed in "extrajudicial killings" and 6 others sustained injuries in September, 2022.
According to the report, five people were abducted by law enforcers in plain clothes.
In addition to the unethical actions of some members of the police, allegations of their involvement in several crimes including indecent behaviour, torture, extortion and robbery, harassment and rape have been published in the media, the report said.
At least two people died in the custody of law enforcement agencies and four people died while trying to escape arrest in September.
The MSF prepared the report based on information published in various media and also collected information by MSF's own source.
Read: ASK September report paints grim picture of human rights in Bangladesh
During the period between September 1 and 30, fourteen people died in prison custody which is six more than the previous month of August.
Due to the lack of proper treatment in the jail, most of the sick prisoners were taken to the Medical College Hospital outside the jail and declared dead.
MSF considers that the incidents of death in custody in prisons are alarming and necessary action has to be taken urgently based on proper investigation.
Around 50 incidents of violence in the political arena during the programs of the opposition parties in different districts of the country occurred. Besides, one incident of post-Union Parishad election violence was also happened during the times in September.
According to information in the media, 50 political violence and post-UP election violence caused the lives of four people in September.
In September, 901 people became victims of violence, of which 869 people were injured, 28 people were shot and seriously injured and 29 people were detained.
Among the victims, one was members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), two workers of Awami League and one was killed in the UP election conflict. Out of the 28 shot injuries, all are BNP activists. Apart from that, among those detained, 28 are from BNP and another agitating job-seeker.
Violence against women and children such as; Rape, gang rape, sexual harassment, suicide and domestic violence especially physical violence have continued like in previous months which is very alarming.
Around 395 incidents of violence against women and children have taken place in this month, which is 139 less than the previous month of August.
Read: Human rights situation in Bangladesh is better than US: Hasan Mahmud
Among those incidents, 62 were rape incidents, 19 were organized rapes and four were incidents of murder after raped. Among them, six were disabled women.
Nineteen journalists faced different troubles during this period. Among them, 10 journalists were attacked and injured while doing their professional duties, two journalists were sued, one received a death threat, three were assaulted, and 3 journalists were threatened in various ways due to being hindered in their professional duties in September.
MSF believes that attacks on freedom of thought and conscience and the exercise of obstacles on freedom of speech are undermining independent journalism and the free flow of information. Common people are deprived of objective news.
Being heavily criticized, harassment in the name of the law has not decreased, but rather its arbitrary abuse has created a new level of concern this month. According to the MSF, a total of 7 persons including a teenager, 2 political activists (1 BNP, 1 State Reform Movement), 3 university students and one youth were arrested in the Digital Security Act case in September 2022.
Besides,12 cases have been filed under the Digital Security Act.
Nine incidents of minority torture including vandalizing of idols, land grabbing and harassment of religious and ethnic minorities at different levels were reported during the period in September.
On September 8, idols were vandalized in the Sadar Model Central Harishava Sarvajan temple in Indurkani Upazila of Pirojpur.
PM: During BNP’s regime, human rights were violated at every step
Coming down heavily on BNP, PM Sheikh Hasina has said they raise questions about the election and human rights, but during their regimes, human rights were violated at every step.
The premier was addressing a civic reception on Saturday, accorded to her by the Bangladeshi community in New York, US.
“They (BNP) are champions in vote-rigging. Starting from incorporating 1.23 crore fake voters, there’s no misdeed they haven’t committed,” she said.
Read: Give fitting response to propaganda against us: PM to expat Bangladeshis
The PM said Awami League believes in people’s rights and protects those rights.
“Awami League ensured the voting rights of people in this country,” she said, adding that AL gave back voting rights to people, which once remained confined in the cantonment.
Social development happened in Bangladesh thanks to the continuation of the democratic system since 2009, she said.
Read:PM: Returning from UNGA with friendship for Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina said BNP tried time and again to disrupt the democratic system by unleashing arson attacks and killings, and imposing blockades.
Blasting Zia’s family, PM Hasina said Khaleda Zia was convicted in a graft case for misappropriating funds for orphans while his son Tarique Rahman for money laundering and 10-truck arms haul case.
She said Bangladesh government had also brought back the money that was illegally siphoned off by Zia’s other son, the late Koko.
Read UN experts seek more help for human rights defenders in push for accountability in Myanmar
She said her government has been working for the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates after giving a brief description of the efforts.
Praising the expatriates, Sheikh Hasina said they always stand by Bangladesh during its times of need.
UN experts seek more help for human rights defenders in push for accountability in Myanmar
UN experts on Friday said human rights defenders documenting and responding to atrocities by Myanmar's military junta urgently need comprehensive support, including financial.
They called on the international community to end apparent indifference to the violence targeting the country's population.
“In the face of inaction by the international community, and with human rights violations continuing to be perpetrated on a daily basis by the military junta, human rights defenders are persisting in their support for those targeted and working to preserve the possibility of justice in the future,” said Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
Along with Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Lawlor highlighted the grave risks defenders face and the specific challenges confronting women human rights defenders.
“Defenders have been murdered and disappeared by the military since the coup took place. They now risk arrest, detention, torture, including sexual violence and death when going about their work and fear having their documents seized at military checkpoints,” the experts said.
Read: UN Human Rights Council adopts resolution to end Rohingya crisis
“Many have had to go into hiding after being targeted by the military for assisting survivors of gender-based violence. They are on the move constantly, and women human rights defenders often have no choice but to take their children with them when they flee.”
Others have had to relocate to neighbouring countries, where they remain vulnerable.
Lawlor and Andrews said they had publicly expressed concerns for the safety of defenders in the country just over a year ago.
“What's needed is concrete support for Myanmar human rights defenders, including those who have had to flee the country: stronger, coordinated pressure on the junta, timely and responsive direct financial support for defenders on the ground, and visas or resettlement for those fleeing the country,” the experts said.
“The international community must not adopt a passive stance when it comes to the crimes that are being perpetrated by the military junta and the risks for human rights defenders in Myanmar.”
“Bangladesh suffering from greenhouse gas impact caused by the developed world”
UN Special Rapporteur on promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, Ian Fry, is currently on an official visit to Bangladesh.
The special rapporteur’s news conference to share his preliminary findings from the visit will be held virtually on September 15.
This is the first official visit (September 4-15) by the UN expert since he took office on May 1, 2022, said an official.
He is assessing how the adverse impact of climate change affects human rights in vulnerable communities.
Also read: UN acting rights chief for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly in Bangladesh ahead of polls
The special rapporteur is focusing on loss and damages incurred due to climate change and extreme weather.
“The impacts of climate change continue to take a huge economic and social toll on the people of Bangladesh. Studies indicate that globally, costs related to loss and damage from climate change impacts will rise to between $290 billion and $580 billion a year by 2030,” Fry said.
“People of Bangladesh are suffering from the greenhouse gas pollution caused by the developed world. It is time the international community stepped up and took responsibility for these impacts,” the UN expert said.
He is also paying special attention to and exploring how climate change impacts are forcing people to be displaced from their land and what measures are being taken to address these impacts.
The UN expert will identify good practices, strategies and policies implemented by the government of Bangladesh, as the country adapts to climate change and builds resilience to its adverse impacts.
The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report on his visit to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2023.
Ian Fry is the first Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.
He was appointed by the Human Rights Council at its 49th session in March 2022 and started his mandate on May 1, 2022.
Fry is an international environmental law and policy expert.
Also read: UN for adoption, implementation of national strategy for cutting poverty among Bangladesh's differently-abled
His focus has primarily been on mitigation policies, and loss and damage associated with the Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol and related instruments.
He worked for the Tuvalu government for over 21 years and was appointed as their Ambassador for Climate Change and Environment from 2015 to 2019.
ASK September report paints grim picture of human rights in Bangladesh
Citing numerous cases of sexual assault, violence against women and children, murder after rape, deaths from law enforcement agencies, and political violence, the monthly human rights violations monitoring report of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has painted a grim picture in Bangladesh during January-August this year.
At least 31 incidents of murder after rape occurred across the country in the last eight months till August 31, according to the ASK e-bulletin published in September.
Read: Absconding accused in rape and murder case of Natore school teacher arrested
The bulletin reflected on the situation of human rights violations in Bangladesh through its documented statistics. The documentation unit of ASK came up with the findings based on the reports of nine leading national dailies and its own sources.
At least 641 women were sexually assaulted in the last eight months this year. Seven incidents of death after rape also occurred during the same period.
Around 770 incidents of violence against children occurred, of which 392 children became victims of sexual assault. Also, 347 children were killed and 95 others were killed after torture during the same period.
Read: Day 1 of Anti-dengue drive: DNCC realises over Tk 4 lakh in fines
At least 13 incidents of deatsh from law enforcement agencies occurred. Also, 324 incidents of domestic violence occurred, of which 134 women were allegedly murdered by their husbands.
At least 54 people were killed and 4,379 injured in 341 incidents of political violence during the same period, according to the ASK report.
Austria's Volker Türk new UN human rights chief
A week after Michelle Bachelet stepped down as the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, the intergovernmental organisation has approved Austrian diplomat Volker Türk to take on the challenging job.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres forwarded the name of Türk, 57, Wednesday to the General Assembly, which approved the appointment without a vote Thursday.
Guterres said in a statement that Türk had "devoted his long and distinguished career to advancing universal human rights, notably the protection of some of the world's most vulnerable people – refugees and stateless persons."
He also cited Türk's work for the UN refugee agency in countries like Kosovo, Bosnia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Read: UN human rights chief to visit Dhaka, Cox's Bazar Aug 14-17
Most recently working in Guterres' office as under-secretary-general for policy, Turk now faces unrelenting opposing pressures from governments and activists while reacting to the realities of the human rights situation.
From 2019 to 2021, Türk served as assistant secretary-general for strategic coordination in the UN chief's Executive Office.
Before that, he was the assistant high commissioner for protection at UN refugees, UNHCR, in Geneva – from 2015 to 2019 – where he played a key role in the development of the landmark Global Compact on Refugees.
Throughout his career, Türk held several key positions, including at UNHCR headquarters where he served from 2009 to 2015 as director of the Division of International Protection; from 2008 to 2009 as director of Organizational Development and Management; and from 2000 to 2004 as chief of Section, Protection Policy and Legal Advice.
Bachelet raised no concern over country’s human rights condition: Anisul Haque
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in her latest report did not express any particular concern over the human rights situation in Bangladesh and related issues, Law Minister Anisul Haque claimed today.
The minister said this to journalists after attending a programme at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BISS) at the capital's Eskaton.
The UN rights chief was invited by the minister in March this year when they met at Geneva after she expressed her interest to visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, he said.
Following the invitation, she visited Bangladesh and its Rohingya camps this month. During her visit Bechelet met with different human rights organisation and representatives of civil society.
Also read: Act now on climate front, listen to countries like Bangladesh: Bachelet
“She made a statement after her visit, during which she met all kinds of representatives of different organisations specialising in different aspects of human rights, but nothing negative came out in her statement - which due to all her meetings must be taken as a deeply rooted and considered statement,” said Anisul Haque.
The law minister seems to think that since the ex-Chilean president is leaving her post at the end of August after 4 years, she can no longer exercise any authority. But her findings will of course be retained as part of her office and passed on to her successor.
Also read: Don’t abandon Rohingyas, scale up supports: Bachelet urges int’l community
US sanctions on law enforcement officials lack specific info: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that the United States has imposed sanctions on some Bangladeshi law enforcement officials without any specific information.
The minister said this after attending a conference at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Saturday noon.
“People say a lot of things. No one believes in something lacks proper information and proof. Such is the case with the US sanctions,” said Kamal.
Kamal added that UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet didn’t raise any concern about the country’s human rights situation during her recent visit.
“We had a long discussion with Bachelet. We provided detailed answers to some of her questions regarding our human rights issues. We even answered her questions about enforced disappearance through a video presentation. After watching the video, she didn’t raise any more questions,” Kamal added.
Read: Home Minister drops in on Bachelet
Replying to a question, the minister also said that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party is spreading propaganda about the country’s human rights issues to create an anarchic situation.
“Whatever the BNP says is totally baseless. Bachelet understood this and that’s why she didn’t raise any concern about the human rights condition of Bangladesh,” Kamal said.