Ex-NHRC chief criticises govt report to UN panel

Former National Human Rights Commission chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman yesterday criticised the government’s recent position on occurrence of enforced disappearance in the country before the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT).

At a meeting marking International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples in Dhaka, Prof Mizanur said the law minister during the ongoing 67th CAT session in Geneva said the term “enforced disappearance” is not recognised by Bangladesh law.

“We can be fooled... but the experts who are in the UN committee -- are they fools as well?” questioned Prof Rahman. “Can this be a proper explanation, a proper reason?” he asked, criticising remarks made by the law minister.

Prof Mizanur Rahman also said when people live in such an environment, they are left with no choice but to worry.

During the ongoing session that will continue till August 9, Bangladesh as a state party has submitted its initial report, which was overdue since 1999, to the committee under article 19 of the Convention against Torture, according to the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Bangladesh has been a signatory of the convention since 1998.