Rein in multinationals to establish right on resources

Multinational companies operating in the country have to be regulated effectively to ascertain the citizens' sovereign rights over the country's natural resources, said eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain.
Citizens of Bangladesh have ultimate and a sovereign right over natural resources and the government is responsible, on behalf of the state, to protect those rights, he said.
Dr Kamal was addressing as the chief guest the inaugural of a two-week training titled "Human Rights and Sovereignty over Natural Resources" starting on Wednesday.
Empowerment through Law of the Common People (ELCOP), an NGO, organised the 11th Human Rights Summer School (HRSS) at Proshika Human Development Centre at Koitta, Manikganj, says a press release.
The training would educate law students on legal and human rights issues in a social context.
Dr Kamal, chairperson of South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (SAILS), said natural resources of the country should be used in a compatible way.
There might be a necessity of multinational companies for technical and other assistance in exploration and procurement of natural resources but they have to be regulated effectively, putting priority on national interests, he said.
Law Commission Chairman Prof M Shah Alam, International Organisation for Migration Regional Representative Rabab Fatima, Macquaire University, Australia Prof Dr M Rafiqul Islam and Kathmandu School of Law Executive Director Prof Yubaraj Sangroula and ELCOP Executive Director Dr Rahmat Ullah also spoke at the inaugural session.
National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman presided over it.
This year, 48 law students from 13 law schools of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Iran are attending the course.