Some people seem to be above law

Maulik Adhikar Suraksha Committee yesterday termed “unrealistic” the government’s maiden periodic report submitted to the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) during its recent session in Geneva.

The rights group said large sections of the law enforcement agencies, the ruling party, and different vested quarters were above the law and trial. And this was mentioned in the CAT’s concluding observations as it did not get appropriate answers to many questions, it added.

The committee organised a programme at the Jatiya Press Club to inform the media about its reaction to the periodic report.

Speaking at the event, eminent jurist Dr Shahdeen Malik said, “There is no minimum security in the country. Incidents of extrajudicial killings and absence of accountability for those is a major sign of a country turning into a failed state.”

Reading out a written statement, Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain said the Bangladesh government’s report avoided many issues.

Another SC lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua said torture in police custody was not stopping as there was neither any resistance nor any remedial measures in this regard.

He said incidents of enforced disappearance were taking place and there was no implementation of laws related to stopping torture.

In the written statement, the committee said while responding to various questions of the CAT, the Bangladesh delegation mentioned issues of torture and other cruel and inhuman behaviour in the light of the country’s constitution and existing laws.

But the delegation tried to hide the reality of not taking action against the incidents of torture, disappearance, extrajudicial killing and other organised crimes and not bringing the culprits to book, except making arrests in one or two incidents, the rights group alleged.

Women rights activist Shirin Haque, also the moderator of the programme, said efforts to stay away from truth was regretful.

The Bangladesh delegation on Tuesday faced a volley of questions from the UN committee about alleged human rights violations and repression against the country’s citizens.

Most of the queries the team faced were regarding the role of law enforcement agencies and impunity given to them despite their alleged involvement in torture and custodial deaths.

The 28-member team, led by Law Minister Anisul Huq, had to deal with the queries.

This was the first time Bangladesh submitted a report to the CAT since the country’s inclusion to the UN body in 1998.