Run-up to polls: EU team talks with NHRC on rights situation

The visiting EU election exploratory mission yesterday wanted to know from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) the possibilities of human rights violations during the next parliamentary elections.

"We said the overall situation is now better than before -- that was evident in the recently held five elections as well as the local government elections," NHRC Chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed told reporters after the meeting with the EU mission at his office.

There were some incidents in the elections but the NHRC has taken action and is investigating the cases. "We discussed these incidents with the EU delegation. We clearly said such incidents cannot be allowed as these are human rights violations."

Politicians do tend to deliver inflammatory speeches before the election, but there is nothing to be afraid of, he said, citing the cases of local government elections, which are often held without any major bloodshed.

"Everybody knows that bloodshed can be harmful to the respective parties. So, they are alert and we also realise that they don't go to that level, either way. So, I think the election environment as of now is good," Ahmed said.

After a few weeks, NHRC will start visiting various divisions and meet the deputy commissioners and the superintendents of police. They will be provided with updated guidelines for election so that there is no vote rigging.

"We will do that to make sure that a participatory and free election is held. This is from the perspective of human rights. In a democracy, people are the most powerful. Those who are elected will be in power. We will try that it happens rightly."

Ahmed believes the EU mission will send election observers.

The EU mission also discussed the overall human rights situation in Bangladesh and the role the NHRC plays.

"We always raise the issues of rights violations and take actions against violations including enforced disappearances. We are vocal against violations like pushing someone to death, custodial death etc," he added.

Meanwhile, after meeting the EU mission at the ministry, Aminul Islam, acting secretary of CHT affairs, said the delegation wanted to visit the hill tracts to meet a cross-section of people to assess whether the situation is conducive for the visit of the EU election observers.

"I advised them to talk to the home ministry for scheduling the visit. I assured them that we would provide logistical support if they visited the hill tracts," he told reporters.

Aminul told the mission that the present situation was much better compared to 2008 when they last visited the area.

Later in the day, the EU delegation held another meeting with the Awami League International Affairs subcommittee at the residence of Charles Whiteley, the EU ambassador to Bangladesh.

The AL subcommittee, which included its chairman Muhammad Zamir and secretary Shammi Ahmed, highlighted the importance of participatory elections in the meeting, The Daily Star has learnt from people informed about the contents of the discussion.

They cited the five city corporation elections recently to further their point.

The next national election will be the same, they said, adding that a free, neutral and fair election is possible under the leadership of PM Hasina.