TIB disputes BNP’s human rights claim

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has disputed claims by Mahdi Amin, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), that the BNP government has ensured unprecedented levels of human rights during its first seven months in office.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the TIB, said the available data paints a different picture, citing dozens of arrests over the exercise of freedom of speech, seven custodial deaths and at least one case of enforced disappearance.
Iftekharuzzaman and Amin made these remarks at a discussion on “democracy, human rights and accountable governance” at the MIDAS Centre in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Speaking as chief guest, Amin said the government had ensured the highest level of freedom of speech in the past seven months, including tolerance of criticism of the government.
He also said the government has demonstrated a willingness to coexist with all groups in an effort to uphold the spirit of the July Uprising.
Amin added that the government wants to ensure an inclusive state machinery and development process by addressing gaps in governance.
He acknowledged that limitations remain, saying it was not possible to remove all remnants of 17 years of “fascist rule” at once.
However Amin claimed that no human rights violations had occurred in connection with the running of the state.
The PMO spokesperson also said the state was not behind any incidents of enforced disappearance, murder, extrajudicial killing or custodial death.
There had also been no state-backed attacks on the opinions or ideologies of opposition and dissenting groups, he added.
Iftekharuzzaman countered that the TIB had received reports of 52 cases of harassment over the exercise of freedom of speech, involving 58 people detained under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
He also cited cases of custodial deaths and enforced disappearance.
The TIB executive director criticised the lawmaking process under the BNP-dominated parliament, saying several ordinances issued during the interim government had been converted into regular laws without inclusive scrutiny.
The law enforcement system has remained under the authority of one or a few individuals, while those responsible for human rights violations are also given the power to investigate and prosecute such offences, Iftekharuzzaman said.
Describing the continuation of this process as undemocratic and unwarranted, Iftekharuzzaman alleged that little had changed since the uprising that ousted the previous government.
Responding to the criticism of the lawmaking process, Amin said legislation is a continuous process that allows room for amendments and that discussions are also ongoing with relevant stakeholders to improve laws.