Editorial
US' critique on our human rights situation
We note their points but should they not look at themselves?
It is ironic that the US with its own stained human rights records should have seen it fit to admonish other countries on their performance in the sensitive area. This is not to preclude criticism where it is due in order to improve upon poor records but to point at a holier than thou attitude that is clearly not morally tenable.
The memories of violation of people's rights in Afghanistan and especially in Iraq are still fresh with Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib as stark proof of inhuman torture evoking protests from the world as a whole including the US itself. What about private mercenary army called black waters fighting for US in surrogate wars? Then does the rendition of 'hostile' persons to a country with reputation for torture and having them brutalised from behind the scene doing any good to US image?
We do, however, take note of many valid points that the US state department has raised about human rights in Bangladesh. Allegations range from preventive and arbitrary detentions, arrest without warrant or formal charges through torture in detention to extract confessional statements or to come out with names of other suspects to lack of open trial, denial of right to bail and restrictions placed on print and electronic media. Nevertheless, the state department is cognizant of the fact 'there was significant decrease in the number of killings by security forces.
The US report has echoed what we had known and often written about. In a state of emergency civil rights remain suspended but that does not mean a dismissive attitude would be taken to the primacy of human rights which is the bed-rock of civilised society. A government that has come about with popular support on a pledge of handing over power to a representative government through free, fair and credible elections should concentrate on good governance and rule of law to create a congenial atmosphere for the polls by December. We are hoping that free and fair elections held on schedule will usher us into a stable and bright future.
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