United News of Bangladesh

Two former US diplomats at a discussion in Dhaka have highlighted the importance of the right to freedom, protection of human rights and democracy, noting that rights come with responsibilities. They said that this is an exciting time in Bangladesh and they want to be part of that with their further contribution as they are devoted actually to human rights and democracy in Bangladesh through their US-based Right to Freedom (R2F), a human rights advocacy organisation dedicated to defending democracy. Ambassador William B Milam, a former US diplomat and specialist in South Asia and West Africa, who served as US Ambassador to Bangladesh and Pakistan; and Jon F. Danilowicz, a retired Department of State senior foreign service officer with extensive experience in South Asia, spoke as the discussion chaired and conducted by President of Cosmos Foundation and renowned scholar-diplomat and former Advisor on Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Caretaker Government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury. Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bangladeshi conglomerate Cosmos Group, in partnership with the Right to Freedom hosted the session titled “The Role of Human Rights Groups: Before and After July Revolution” on Wednesday evening. Dhaka Courier's Executive Editor Shayan S Khan and Research Associate of Cosmos Foundation and Bay of Bengal Institute Md Umran Chowdhury spoke as discussants. Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan delivered welcome remarks.  Dr Iftekhar said a decade and half of predatory politics had snuffed out all the elements of right to speak freely, think freely, and which was swept away by a torrential tidal wave of public protest, which is called the monsoon revolution. The foreign affairs expert said Bangladesh will need to navigate, oftentimes, with the greatest circumspection through rough seas and even troubled waters. “Our polity, that is Bangladesh polity, will need to design the kind of institution it sees as best suited to give fruition to our national goals and aspirations,” he said. The foreign affairs expert said democracy, human rights and pluralism are values that provide the bedrock of their civic existence. “And there is no doubt that a nation with Professor Mohammed Yunus at the helm will make the best endeavours to evolve a consensual approach, as he says, to its perceived national self-interest,” Dr Iftekhar said. He said the path can be long and arduous. We all know that we have a hill to climb and waiting will not make it any smaller.

Bangladesh Permanent Representative Ambassador Rabab Fatima has reiterated Bangladesh’s unflinching commitment in promoting and protecting human rights.