Bangladesh reminded of its obligation to respect human rights

GHRD participated in a seminar at the Houses of Lords titled Bangladesh - the Roadmap to Parliamentary Elections? on the 25th February. The seminar was organised by the International Bangladesh Foundation and chaired by Lord Avebury, the Vice Chair of All Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group and Chairman of International Bangladesh Foundation. The seminar was attended by MPs, MEP, Peers, Councillors and representatives of human rights organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Jumma Peoples Network, Nirmul Committee and the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.

Lord Avebury in his opening remarks reminded that according to the electoral roadmap published by the caretaker government, talks with political parties were to be completed by the end of 2007, and the reforms to the laws on elections were to be passed by March. These targets have slipped. It would surely be useful if a revised roadmap were to be published with new deadlines for the remaining stages of the process.

Saida Muna Tasneem, Counsellor of the Bangladesh High Commission in London, gave a presentation and an overview of the caretaker government’s commitment to the roadmap to parliamentary elections by Dec 2008 and progress in vote registration and various reforms it has implemented, such as the separation of the judiciary and the formation of independent election commission, anti corruption commission and a national human rights commission. Her introduction was followed by respondents from distinguished speakers including MEP Robert Evans, Chair of the European Parliament’s South Asia Delegation, Anne Main MP, Chairman, Conservative Friends of Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and representatives from Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Speakers expressed their deep concern at the human rights abuses under the country’s state of emergency and the caretaker government’s failure to restrain the security forces. Others raised the issue of the trial of war criminals and the failure to bring the perpetrators that has led to culture of impunity. Speakers also acknowledged the various steps taken by the present government against corruption, terrorism and welcomed Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed's recent comments against the war criminals but stated that it is the duty of the government to initiate the cases and take initiatives against the alleged war criminals. All the UK and the European parliamentarians reminded the caretaker Government that it should live up to its political obligation by lifting emergency rule to allow political activities and political reform. Human rights violations, lifting of emergency rule must be placed on the reform agenda as a top priority and the government must respect human rights of its citizens and ensure no torture takes place. Human Rights Watch criticised the government for the continuing widespread use of torture in the country, and raised particular attention to the torture of journalist Tasneem Khalil. Jenny Lundström of GHRD encouraged the government to ensure that all citizens are included in the upcoming election process, including the often neglected minorities living in the rural areas. A full report from the seminar will be submitted to the government of Bangladesh. The seminar also provided an opportunity for GHRD to raise concern about the human rights situation in Bangladesh, and to distribute the 2007 annual human rights report to Members of the British Parliament.

Read the entire press release from the House of Lords

See the entire list of speakers here