United News of Bangladesh

Welcoming the report by the UN Human Rights Office, Chief Adviser Prof  Muhammad Yunus has reiterated the interim government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and called on all members of Bangladesh’s justice system, including the police, prosecutors and judges, to do the same. “I, along with everyone else working in the interim government and millions of other Bangladeshis, am committed to transforming Bangladesh into a country in which all its people can live in security and dignity,” he said on Wednesday. The interim government thanked the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for undertaking the “most thorough independent investigation” to date of the events in Bangladesh in July and August that ended the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime. As the report notes, the long years of the Hasina regime have left Bangladesh with ‘structural deficiencies’ in the law enforcement and justice sectors, said the Chief Adviser. Chief Adviser to visit Aynaghar soon The reform of these institutions is crucial to Bangladesh’s transformation into a society where its entire people can live in security and dignity, he said. “I call on everyone working inside these institutions to side with justice, the law, and the people of Bangladesh in holding to account their own peers and others who have broken the law and violated the human and civil rights of their fellow citizens.” The OHCHR made its investigation at the invitation of Bangladesh’s interim government. Its report identified extensive and grave human rights violations, including alleged extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and disproportionate use of force by the Sheikh Hasina-led government and elements associated with the Awami League, as well as a broader array of security and intelligence agencies. Based on deaths reported by various credible sources, the report estimated that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed between 1 July and 15 August, and thousands were injured, the vast majority of whom were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces.  CA Dr Yunus to visit 'Aynaghar' soon Of these, the report indicated that as many as 12-13 percent of those killed were children. Bangladesh Police reported that 44 of its officers were killed.  

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today noted that the number of extrajudicial killings has significantly gone down since the US sanctions imposed last December on RAB. He saw this “as a good sign”. The US ambassador made the remarks at “Meet the Ambassador” event organised by Center for Governance Studies and German think tank Friedrich Ebert Stiftung at a Dhaka hotel. Read:Momen in NY: No specific info given by US on Rab sanctions Political parties, academics and former diplomats were present at the event. Haas said the sanctions imposed by the US against RAB and seven of its former and current officials were not intended to punish them but to change the behaviour and hold them accountable. Responding to a question, the US ambassador said there has been no change in their policy and the sanctions are still in place.  Sanctions will remain until there is accountability and reform, he said.  “We are looking for accountability for past incidents,” said the US ambassador.  Haas also said that peaceful and fair elections are not possible if there is violence. He laid emphasis on free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh and expressed concerns over the recent political violence. Talking further on elections, he said, “I keep saying free, fair and transparent elections in accordance with international standards. I’m happy to add inclusive to it.” The US ambassador touched upon various aspects of Bangladesh-US relations, including trade, labour rights, regional and global politics, and Indo-Pacific strategy. Read:US sanctions outcome of USD 100 million project: IGP Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in terms of workplace safety in the export-oriented industries, he said, adding that the US still has concerns in the area of labour rights. Zillur Rahman, Executive Director of Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), moderated the session.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday sought support from the media to achieve Bangladesh’s foreign policy goal on public diplomacy front to help the country tell its success stories abroad.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Sunday brushed aside allegations against elite police unit Rab, terming them propaganda against Bangladesh.   "It's (such propaganda) nothing new," he told reporters after attending a programme in the city citing the deployment of some lobbyists to spread such propaganda against the country.   Responding to a question, he said it was raised internally by a few persons as part of their internal process and it has nothing to do with the government.   "Rab is an organisation of our pride. We have all the answers ready for any situation if we are conveyed about it (officially)," he said, adding that Bangladesh will only react if any state or international organisation conveys to Bangladesh.   The State Minister highlighted the steps taken by the government and said the government remains engaged with the UN bodies for further improvements as it is an evolving process.   The number of extrajudicial killings has dropped significantly in the country as only nine such cases were recorded since August, according to rights group Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that the Awami League government is trying to make enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings part of ‘national culture’.

Mentioning that the government is dealing with crimes strongly, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Thursday that the law enforcers should not be criticised in a way that may diminish their work spirit.

Two BNP MPs on Monday sharply criticised the government for what they said the ongoing “extrajudicial” killings and demanded a statement from the Home Minister whether all citizens of the republic will get the equal scope to take shelter under the arm of the law.

BNP on Saturday alleged that the current government has made enforced disappearance as its main political programme to continue its ‘despotic’ rule by eliminating its opponents.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that 'extrajudicial killings' are taking place in Bangladesh in ‘freestyle’.

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday alleged that the law-and-order situation in the country has completely ‘collapsed’ as some police personnel have turned monsters for being ‘used in unethical’ activities like extrajudicial killings.