Human Rights Commission
We welcome the news that preparations are afoot to set up a National Human Rights Commission. Its absence has been hurtful to the national image, especially when one considers the fact that the very birth of Bangladesh denominated triumph of human rights.
Early last year decision was taken to establish an independent human rights commission comprising representatives from the civil society whose watchdog role would be to promote and protest human rights in a context of both pluralism and democracy. With an international conference in Dhaka setting the stage for a commission to be brought into existence and the AL government being keen on it, the law ministry set about the task of drafting a suitable bill for it. This is almost ready for final discussion at a seminar attended presumably by experts and publicists some time in the first quarter of the new year. Subsequently, in June, it is likely to be placed before the Jatiya Sangsad for what we would like to see a thorough-going televised debate on the points at issue by the Opposition. This will be necessary for dissemination of information among the public but for whose active participation protection of human rights would remain a far cry. From the passage of the bill through the President's consulting the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad and Leader of the Opposition to appoint the chairman and members of the commission to the eventual formation of the body whatever it takes to maintain the time-table must all be done.
We want the national commission on human rights to be not merely independent but also effective in carrying out its writ. We value the prospective presentation of an annual report by the commission to the government and the latter's tabling of it in the Jatiya Sangsad within 90 days followed by submission of a memorandum of action taken or proposed on the recommendations of the commission. Even non-acceptance of any recommendation will call for explanation before the parliament. Nothing should now stand in the way of setting up the human rights commission by July this year.
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