Govt strictly against it

Unb, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said if anyone of the country's law-enforcement agencies is found guilty of extra-judicial killings, they would be given stringent punishment.

She made the remark when Human Rights Ambassadors of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany--Arjan Hamburger, Amold de Fine Skibsted and Gunter Nooke--paid a courtesy call on her at her office yesterday.

The envoys discussed human rights situation and parliamentary affairs among other matters of common interest during the meet.

The PM told the ambassadors that everyone of the land has equal rights to get legal assistance and justice.

"I am personally and our government is strictly against any type of extrajudicial killings," she was quoted as saying by her Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad.

As some recent incidents of alleged extrajudicial killings were raised in the meeting, the PM said investigation into the incidents has been ordered. And if anyone is found guilty of committing such act, one will be brought to law.

She however said a few incidents of extrajudicial killings have occurred when the security personnel were about to come under grenade attacks and such other terrific attacks by terrorists.

In this context, Hasina said practice of extrajudicial killings was taken recourse to by the last BNP-Jamaat government.

The human rights ambassadors expressed the hope that under able and wise leadership of Hasina, human rights in Bangladesh would be upheld in the days to come.

The premier told the envoys that Bangladesh Awami League and the present government believe that human rights means people will have full socioeconomic safety and dignity, food security, rights to get accommodation, health, education facilities, freedom of expression and voting rights.

She said her government, after assuming office, is working hard to strengthen further the watchdog bodies like Human Rights Commission, Right to Information Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission and all other institutions to establish people's rights.

The European envoys assured the PM that their governments would work together with the government of Bangladesh to attain these targets for accelerating people's welfare.

Hasina said the last AL government had been successful in stopping violence in the hilly region through the signing of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord 1997 and ensuring water share of Bangladesh people through the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India.

She held the view that all other problems in the South Asian region can be solved through discussion, as in all of the countries democratic governments are in power.

"This way, we can establish peace in the region--and peace will expedite human rights also."

On parliamentary affairs, the PM reiterated her call for the abstaining opposition party to join the parliament for national welfare.

She said the ongoing session has been extended so that the opposition party can join the House in due deference with people's aspiration.

About the much-talked-about front-row sitting arrangement in the House, the PM said the opposition party has been facilitated with more front seats than their proportional strengths according to the parliamentary rules.

"We never evaluate opposition side in terms of the number of their MPs," the prime minister said.

As an outstanding example in the history of parliament, all parliamentary standing committees were formed in the very first session of the House and chairmen of seven parliamentary committees were selected from the opposition.

They said Bangladesh and the European nations have been enjoying friendly relations since the country's independence attained in 1971 under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The PM thanked the European nations for extending their support in restoring Bangladesh's democracy by holding the free, fair, neutral and acceptable elections on December 29 last year.

PM's Principal Secretary MA Karim, Office Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman and ambassador M Ziauddin were present.