Political activists are the biggest victims of human rights violations in Bangladesh: Law Minister

Political activists are the biggest victims of human rights violations in Bangladesh, said Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman. At the same time, expressing dissatisfaction with the previous draft or ordinance of the law on enforced disappearances, he said that more opportunities have been given to criminals there. The Law Minister said these things at a stakeholder meeting titled ‘National Human Rights Commission and Disappearances Act’ at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Sunday afternoon (May 17).
The Law Minister said that there is no need for the Chief Justice to be the head of the caretaker government. The judges are losing their impartiality in the workplace in the hope of the newly-appointed Chief Justice becoming the chief advisor to the caretaker government or being appointed to various lucrative positions after retirement.
Stating that there is a need for a proper law to ensure strict punishment in the interest of the families of the disappeared, the Minister said that the proposed new law will in no way reduce the power of the National Human Rights Commission, but rather make the institution stronger and more independent. To avoid protracted proceedings, the investigation section has been omitted and the investigation stage has been kept direct. If the report of any force chief is not acceptable to the commission, the commission can continue the investigation on its own authority and if someone tries to hide someone by giving wrong information, the concerned officer will also be held accountable. At the event, the minister spoke about ensuring the independence of the judiciary, special training of lawyers and accountability of the money allocated by the law ministry. At this time, strongly criticizing the bribery incident of 1.5 crore taka in the past, he mentioned the verdict in the Masdar Hossain case as a unique and ‘salute’ example for the judiciary.