Anti-discrimination law a must

Enactment of anti-discrimination law is necessary to put an end to the various forms of discrimination prevailing in the society, said Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi yesterday.

Some people are not allowed to take certain jobs and even sit at village tea stalls, he told a consultation programme arranged by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

“It is unacceptable and we must have anti-discrimination law as soon as possible,” he added.

He said a draft copy of the law is ready and is presently at the legislative and parliamentary affairs division of the law ministry.

NHRC arranged the consultation to share the draft Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report prepared by the commission with different stakeholders. A final copy of the report highlighting the country's human rights situation and recommendations is supposed to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council this month.

Gowher Rizvi said the Dalits are the most disadvantaged groups in the society.

“It is the injustice we have been perpetrated and yet we do not think about this in our daily discourse,” he said.

To ensure human rights, he further said, people need to develop a human rights culture first. Along with this culture comes respect for the rule of law, he observed.

Expressing his frustration, he said it is shocking that the privileged, well-off and powerful people think they are above the law; they think they make laws and rules for others, but not for themselves.

 “As long as this remains, we will not be able to develop a human rights culture.”

UNDP Bangladesh Country Director Sudipto Mukherjee and NHRC Full Time Member Nazrul Islam also spoke.56465456464465464