Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Monday said that there should be a strong push to translate the concept of human rights as enshrined in the constitution into practice from paper.
He also urged the National Human Rights Commission and the vibrant civil society to act as a catalyst and strong monitors to ensure that this happens.
He made the call while addressing a discussion meeting organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to mark the Human Rights Day, which was observed on Monday.
Echoing the words of the 4th US President James Madison, the CJ said human rights are not established by writing "words on paper or moving air with one's lips." Human rights are established by building specific types of institutions of exact design.
"Human rights are established further when such institutions begin to live through organised, articulate, free, law-abiding interests-through free association of every sort among a free people," he said quoting Madison as saying.
He also noted that human rights education should be introduced in the national curriculum providing an opportunity to impart human rights knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to all young people in Bangladesh.
Kazi Reazul Hoque, chairman of the commission, chaired the discussion meeting which was also addressed by Mahbub Uz Zaman, secretary-bilateral (Asia & Pacific) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; René Holenstein Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland; Charlotta Schlyter Ambassador, Embassy of Sweden; Sudipto Mukerjee, Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh; and Sheepa Hafiza, Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra.
Referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Chief Justice said it stipulates that every government has a duty to enable all people to enjoy their inalienable rights and freedoms.
He noted that the Constitution of Bangladesh pledged high ideals of nationalism, socialism, democracy, secularism and that the fundamental aim of the State to realise through the democratic process a socialist society, free from exploitation, a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedoms, equality and justice will be secured for all citizens.
British High Commissioner Alison Blake said that every citizen should have the right to discuss and the right to criticise their government.
She said to ensure democratic and human rights values, a free and independent media is essential.
"This freedom of media is more important during the election time when the government and the law enforcement agencies need to ensure a free, fair and credible election," she noted.
The voters should have the freedom to vote for their candidates without any kind of intimidation to ensure fair and credible election, she said.
René Holenstein, Ambassadsor of Switzerland to Bangladesh, said development is intrinsically linked to human rights.
One cannot separate human rights from development, he said, adding, "It is in this spirit that Switzerland continues to cooperate closely with the government of Bangladesh and civil society in the area of development, democracy and human rights."
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