NHRC may go to court for redress

National Human Rights Commission will go to the court, seeking directives if the government fails to stop abductions and secret killings immediately, its Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said yesterday.
The recent deterioration of the law and order situation is a threat to human rights. The commission will appeal to the court to issue directives on the state and law enforcers, if it sees no notable improvement soon, the NHRC chief told reporters after attending a roundtable discussion, "Universal periodic review and rights of the indigenous people: Bangladesh perspective", organised by ActionAid Bangladesh at Cirdap auditorium in the capital.
 The warning came at a time when the country witnessed an alarming rise in abduction, forced disappearance and secret killing due to what he said was a lack of government action to curb crimes.
There have been countless incidents of adduction and forced disappearance in recent times.
In one of those, Narayanganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam along with his four aides and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker and his driver were abducted separately around the same time on April 27 after they had left the court area in two cars.
Six bodies were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river three days later and another was found the following day.
Replying to a query, Mizanur said the rights watchdog only made recommendations and had already suggested several steps to the home ministry to stop abduction and killing.   
"To resist such crimes, we have suggested stopping drives by law enforcers in plainclothes and it is a matter of joy that the ministry has already accepted it and issued an order to this end,” he said.
The law enforcers have to show their identity cards even when they conduct drives in uniform and make at least two local witnesses while picking up someone, he added.
"We came to know yesterday (Sunday) that some law enforcers besides criminal groups are involved in such crimes. It has been proved.”
The commission voiced concern many times over law enforcers' involvement in such crimes. The present situation would not have arisen had the government taken necessary steps, the NHRC chairman added.
During the roundtable session, Mizanur said the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord would not be considered implemented until the right of indigenous people to their land was ensured.
Parliament members Fazle Hossain Badsha, Quazi Rosy and Ushatan Talukder also spoke while Country Director of ActionAid Farah Kabir moderated the programme.