Renew Odhikar’s registration

Thirty-seven eminent citizens yesterday protested and condemned the cancellation of registration of non-governmental organisation "Odhikar".

They  also demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision and renewal of its licence.

In a statement, they said this decision of the NGO Affairs Bureau is tantamount to the contempt of court and contradictory to the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution as a case involving its registration is pending with the High Court.

"Odhikar has been collecting information and doing research and advocacy for many years to establish rule of law and human rights. We think the activities of this organisation regarding the allegations of violation of constitutional rights particularly forced disappearance, extrajudicial killings and tortures are very important for the victims and their near and dear ones as well as all the citizens of the country," they said in the statement.

"We have noted with anxiety that the NGO Affairs Bureau has decided not to renew the registration of 'Odhikar'. As the government is being criticised at home and abroad for different incidents of extreme human rights violation, its decision about Odhikar will issue a damaging message, increase the panic in the mind of people about forced disappearance, killing and torture and will indicate a new threat for the proactive human rights organisations," it added.

The signatories are: former caretaker government advisers Sultana Kamal, Rasheda K Chowdhury; Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury of Gonoshasthaya Kendra; rights activist Hamida Hossain; Prof Anu Muhammad; Dr Iftekharuzzaman; former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder; Sara Hossain; Dr Faustina Pereira; Dr Samina Luthfa; Dr Asif Nazrul; Syeda Rizwana Hasan; Prof Tasnim Siddiqui; Supreme Court lawyers Shahdeen Malik, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua and Subrata Chowdhury; Tabarok Hossain; Prof Swapan Adnan, Prof Robayet Ferdous; Dr Shahnaz Huda; Dr Sumaiya Khair; researcher Beena D'Costa; photographer Shahidul Alam; rights activists Shirin Huq, Nur Khan Liton, Arup Rahee, Rehnuma Ahmed, Rezaur Rahman Lenin, Naser Bakhtiar Ahmed, Hanaa Shams Ahmed, Ejajul Islam, Professor Parvin Hasan, researcher Saydia Gulrukh and Rozina Begum; Jahangirnagar University's Nasrin Khandker; Chattogram University's Mydul Islam and Mayer Dak's organiser Sanjida Islam.