'Political delinquency' to blame: speakers

Laws to protect human rights in Bangladesh are not being implemented properly due to “political delinquency”, for which people are suffering the most, speakers at a discussion said yesterday.

They also alleged that the government has not excluded Section 57 from the Digital Security Act, despite the commitment they had made before adopting the law.

Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) organised the discussion at Jatiya Press Club in the capital, marking the 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Terming the recent shutdown of 58 websites by the government “human rights violation”, they also urged the government to withdraw the ban immediately.

Prof Lailufar Yasmin of Dhaka University's International Relations department was the chief speaker, while Advocate Sigma Huda, chairperson of BSEHR, presided over the programme.

Prof Yasmin described the context of UDHR on November 10, 1948 and double-standards in its implementation in the world: “There is also politicisation of understanding of UDHR… We can see how children are dying in US custody... whether we are talking about Rohingyas or people dying in Syria… all of these need to be taken into consideration [in light of UDHR].”

Advocate Sigma Huda said, “The judiciary in Bangladesh has turned blind; it is only for the rich… we have to make the people aware of their rights.”

Moderated by Tarik Haider, former district judge and a member of BSEHR, a number of human rights activists spoke at the programme.

Advocate Aftab Ahmed said, “Around 95 percent of accused in Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act are acquitted due to the weak prosecution case and faults in investigation.”

Shariful Islam Khan, managing editor of daily Amader Orthoniti, said, “The online media regulation is yet to come into effect, though the cabinet passed it a long time ago.”

Asma Begum, a survivor of Kalyanpur slum fire turned-human rights activist, also shared her story -- how she survived from human rights violations within her family.