HRC boss worried at 'disappearances'

'Disappearances' have emerged as a new trick of torturing citizens, though the number of extra-judicial killings has decreased recently, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said yesterday.
The state has now become one of the major sources of human rights abuses as different government agencies are continuously denying people their rights, he told Human Rights Defenders' Conference.
The NHRC chief was addressing the opening session of the two-day conference as the chief guest. Rights body Odhikar organised the event at Hope Foundation in Savar on the outskirts of the city.
According to a report of Odhikar, a total 15 people were disappeared by the law enforcement agencies during January to August this year which was 17 in 2010 and two in 2009. The number of deaths in crossfire during January to August was 44 which was 101 in 2010 and 129 in 2009, say Odhikar reports.
Mizanur insisted the law enforcers must be in uniform when they turn up to arrest a suspect. “If they practise this, it will decrease the reports of disappearances and extra-judicial killings.”
The violations have increased as the black money holders infringe others' rights, he pointed out.
Asked why the NHRC does not publish any report on the country's rights situation, he blamed lack of manpower in the commission and sought support from all to strengthen it.
He urged the people to be more conscious about their rights and protest any incident of human rights violation.
Abbas Faiz, senior researcher of Amnesty International, censured the government for not publishing the probe report on maiming 16-year-old college student Limon Hossain of Jhalakathi.
If the government wants to bring any positive change in the society, it must ensure the security of the human rights defenders, said Pokpong Lawansiri, protection coordinator (Asia) of Irish rights watchdog Front Line Defenders.
A team of Rapid Action Battalion picked up Limon from near his house at Jamaddarhat in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi on March 23 and shot in his left leg.
Later doctors amputated his leg from the thigh as the tissues were totally damaged due to excessive bleeding caused by delay in treatment.