Ombudsman on rights on cards

The government will very soon appoint an ombudsman in order to ensure constitutional rights of the people.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said the process for appointing the ombudsman would be completed within a month or two.
Although the law regarding appointment of ombudsman was enacted in the 80's, the present government is going to implement the law for the first time, the minister said.
He made the remark while speaking as chief guest at a function at Dhaka judges' court premises. It was the inauguration ceremony of Legal Aid Office for Dhaka Legal Aid Committee under the Legal Reforms Project of the law ministry, supported by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
District and Sessions Judge of Dhaka Md Abdul Gafur presided over the function, which was addressed by State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam, Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert MacDugal, Dhaka Bar Association President Mokhlesur Rahman Badal, its General Secretary Gazi Md Shah Alam and Canadian Project Director of the Legal Reform Project Ian Morrison.
The law minister said the ombudsman will be elected by the parliament and remain accountable to the parliament.
The ombudsman can probe allegations against any government, semi-government or statutory office or organisation and can recommend the government to take proper steps against any of them, he said.
Shafique also said the government has taken steps to strengthen the National Human Rights Commission in order to ensure the rights of the people.