Tuesday, March 1, 2011

HR violation prevalent in country: HRC chief

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman Khan on Monday said human rights violation is prevalent in the country despite its rate decreasing.

Prof Khan said torture in custody will reduce considerably if the home ministry issues a notice announcing special punishment for it.

He was addressing a press conference to launch a report on Human Rights of Minorities in Bangladesh in 2010.

Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) jointly organised the press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the city.

HR of minority groups improves

Human rights of the minority community have slightly improved in 2010 in the country due to some effective steps of the government, according to a recent human rights report.
The report said 2010 saw some improvement for minorities as members of minorities held several important positions of the government and some steps were taken towards controlling the curriculum of Madrasha.

Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) jointly prepared the report titled ‘Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh’, which was released at Dhaka Reporter
s Unity yesterday morning.

NHRC chairman for returning vested properties to minority

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman has urged the government to form a special committee to return the vested properties to the minority community.
“I recommend forming a special committee headed by Prof Abul Barakat, who is working in the field, to return the vested properties to the minority community,” he said at a function marking the release of human rights report at Dhaka Reporter
s Unity (DRU) yesterday morning.

Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) jointly prepared the report, titled ‘Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh’.

Red tapism blamed for Poor manpower

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman, Dr. Mizanur Rahman, on Monday blamed bureaucratic tangle for the lack of required manpower in NHRC. Rahman said the commission is yet to get the 28 professionals whose appointment was cleared by the Prime Minister four months ago.

The NHRC chairman was speaking on the sidelines of a programme organized by Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) on the occasion of publishing Human Rights Report-2011 on the minorities in Bangladesh.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Human rights of minority groups slightly improves: Report

The human rights of the minority community has slightly improved in 2010 in the country due to some effective steps of the government, according to a recent human rights report.
The report said 2010 saw some improvement for minorities as members of minorities held several important positions of the government and some steps were taken towards controlling the curriculum of Madrasa.

Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) jointly prepared the report titled 'Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh', which was released at Dhaka Reporters Unity Monday morning.

NHRC chairman for special committee to return vested properties

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman on Monday urged the government to form a special committee to return the vested properties to the minority community.

"I recommend forming a special committee headed by Prof Abul Barakat, who is working in the field, to return the vested properties to the minority community," he said at a function marking the release of human rights report at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the morning.

Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) jointly prepared the report, titled 'Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh'.

NHRC chair for new commission to return vested property

National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur Rahman on Monday suggested for the appointment of a commission to find out a mechanism for the restoration of vested properties to their owners or their successors.

He made the suggestion while speaking at a news conference jointly hosted by Global Human Rights Defense and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights at Dhaka Reporters Unity on the occasion of publication of ‘Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh.’

Custodial Deaths: NHRC chief wants strong govt warning

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman yesterday urged the home minister to issue a circular with a strong warning against custodial deaths.

If the circular is issued, it will help bring down the rate of custodial deaths and improve human rights condition in the country, he said.

Mizanur was speaking at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity on publication of "Human rights report on Minority community in Bangladesh, 2010" jointly conducted by Bangladesh Institute of Human` Rights (BIHR), Dhaka and Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), the Netherlands.

আমলাদের কারণে মানবাধিকার কমিশনে লোকবল নিয়োগ হচ্ছে না

মানবাধিকার কমিশনের চেয়ারম্যান ড. মিজানুর রহমান বলেছেন, প্রধানমন্ত্রীর অনুমোদনের পরও আমলাদের কারণে মানবাধিকার কমিশনে ২৮ লোকবল নিয়োগ দেয়া সম্ভব হচ্ছে না। আজ সোমবার রিপোর্টার্স ইউনিটিতে বাংলাদেশ সংখ্যালঘু মানবাধিকার প্রতিবেদন-২০১০ প্রকাশনা অনুষ্ঠানে তিনি এ কথা বলেন। গ্লোবাল হিউম্যান রাইটস ডিফেন্স ও বাংলাদেশ ইনস্টিটিউট অব হিউম্যান রাইটস এ প্রকাশনার আয়োজন করে।

অনুষ্ঠানে ড. মিজানুর রহমান বলেন, লোকবল নিয়োগ বন্ধ থাকলেও মানবাধিকার কমিশনের কাজ বন্ধ থাকবে না। প্রয়োজনে দেশের ছাত্র-ছাত্রীদের নিয়ে কার্যক্রম চালিয়ে যাবে মানবাধিকার কমিশন।
তিনি বলেন, মানবাধিকার কমিশনের কর্মীরা কোন ধর্ম বা গোষ্ঠীর নয়। তারা মানুষ হিসেবে কাজ করে যাচ্ছেন।

আটক অবস্থায় মৃত্যু: 'বাহিনীর সংশ্লিষ্ট সদস্যকে বরখাস্ত করা উচিত'

আটক অবস্থায় নির্যাতনে অপরাধীর মৃত্যু হলে আইন-শৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর সংশ্লিষ্ট সদস্যকে সাময়িক বরখাস্ত করতে স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রীর কাছে অনুরোধ করেছেন মানবাধিকার কমিশন চেয়ারম্যান।

সোমবার রিপোর্টার্স ইউনিটিতে 'বাংলাদেশ সংখ্যালঘু মানবাধিকার প্রতিবেদন ২০১০' প্রকাশ উপলক্ষ্যে আয়োজিত এক সংবাদ সম্মেলনে এ অনুরোধ করেন কমিশন চেয়ারম্যান মিজানুর রহমান।

আটক অবস্থায় নির্যাতনে মৃত্যু রোধে আইন দরকার নেই- মন্তব্য করে তিনি বলেন,"যারা অপরাধীদের আটকাবস্থায় নির্যাতন করবে তাদের তাৎক্ষণিকভাবে বরখাস্ত করার সাজা দেওয়া হবে।

NHRC chairman suggests forming special committee to return vested properties to minority community

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman on Monday urged the government to form a special committee to return the vested properties to the minority community.

“I recommend forming a special committee headed by Prof Abul Barakat, who is working in the field, to return the vested properties to the minority community,” he said at a function marking the release of human rights report at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the morning.

Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) jointly prepared the report, titled ‘Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh’.

CUSTODIAL DEATHS 'Accused should be suspended instantly'

Mon, Feb 28th, 2011 7:20 pm


The human rights watchdog chief has called for instant suspension of the accused lawmen as an initial measure to prevent custodial deaths.

Speaking on the unveiling of 'Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh' at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday, National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur Rahman urged the home minister to consider the matter urgently.

He commented that there was no need for a separate law to prevent custodial deaths if law enforcers, accused of torturing or killing criminals, were suspended instantly.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: Press conference on publishing “Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh”

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) together with Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD )is going to organized a press conference on publish the “Human Rights Report 2010: Minorities in Bangladesh” on 28th February 2011 from 10 am to 1.00pm at VIP Lounge, Dhaka Reporters Unity, 8/4-A Toppkhana Road, Segun Bagicha, Dhaka

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

FORWARDED APEEAL:BANGLADESH: Arson attack on Jumma minority community in Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts


Dear Friends,
Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) is forwarding the urgent appeal from Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), Netherlands regarding Arson attack on Jumma minority community in Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Friday, February 18, 2011

STATEMENT: BIHR gravely concerns about the massive communal attack on Jumma villages by Bengali settlers.

On 17 February 2011, following a death, the Bengali settlers from Gulshakhali settler area of Gulshakhali union under Longadu upazila in Rangamati district in collaboration with Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) (formerly BDR) made a massive communal attack on Jumma villages of Gulshakhali and Rangi Para areas. It is learnt that at least 23 houses of Jumma villagers including one BRAC school were reportedly burnt to ashes in the attack while two Jumma students were seriously injured in another attack made at Tintilya launchghat in Longadu at noon. 

Thursday, February 17, 2011

STATEMENT:BIHR gravely concerns about arson attacks in CHT

সুত্র: বিআইএইচআর/এস/০২/০২/১১                                                   তারিখ : ১৮ ফেব্রুয়ারী ২০১১

বিবৃতি: পার্বত্য চট্রগ্রামে পাহাড়ি-বাঙালি সহিংসতায় বিআইএইচআর তীব্র নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছে।

বাংগালী সেটলার এর মৃত্যুকে কেন্দ্র করে আজ রাঙ্গামাটি জেলার লংগদু উপজেলাধীন গুলসাখালী ইউনিয়নের গুলশাখালী ও রাঙ্গীপাড়া এলাকায় নিরাপত্তা বাহিনীর প্রত্যক্ষ সহযোগিতায় সেটেলার বাঙালি কর্তৃক জুম্মদের গ্রামে সাম্প্রদায়িক হামলা ও ঘরবাড়ীতে অগ্নিসংযোগের ঘটনায় বাংলাদেশ ইন্সস্টিটিউট অব হিউম্যান রাইটস ( বিআইএইচআর ) তীব্র নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছে।

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

FACT FINDING REPORT:Human rights lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam along with his two comrades physically attacked during an investigation: Looted their all belongings


Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights  is deeply concerned about the recent incident of physical assault and threats of Mr. Shahanur Islam, BIHR’s Executive Director and lawyer in Bangladesh.

During an investigation on the 9th of January, 2011 Mr. Shahanur Islam and his two fact-finding officers were physically attacked, threatened and looted all their valuable belongings in Thakurgaon district.This incident is unfortunately one of many that has taken place over the past few years, where Mr. Islam has been exposed to threats and assault as a result of his work to protect minorities in the country. Human rights defenders are frequently subjected to harassment from authorities in Bangladesh. The incident must be investigated and appropriate sanctions be meted to the police authority in question. BIHR urges for the immediate intervention to ensure the protection of human rights defenders and lawyers in their daily work in Bangladesh.