BNP urges Human Rights Commission chief to quit

FE Report | Published: May 17, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: May 17, 2015 01:55:46

Asaduzzaman Ripon

The BNP has termed the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in the country ineffective and demanded its reforms.
"The HRC has never been effective. So the chairman of the commission should resign taking responsibility of its failure. In a democratic country, human rights are a parameter. But the human rights situation in Bangladesh is horrendous," Asaduzzaman Ripon, international affairs secretary of BNP, told journalists at a press briefing at the party's central office in the city.
He also demanded formation of a permanent task force comprising neutral persons and experts to investigate human rights violations in the country.
Mr Ripon, who is also the spokesperson of the party, said the human rights situation in Bangladesh was horrifying.
"The foreign media are covering it. We demand formation of a task force as per the High Court order," he said.
"We call upon the government to form the task force with the persons having no political affiliation. You (Chairman of HRC) should resign immediately taking the responsibility of all failures. It would be graceful for you. You are a teacher of a university too," he said.
"The person who is in charge of the Human Rights Commission has shed a lot of tears. But it did not work. Sometimes his comments created controversy. So this sort of nominal commission should not be kept any more. Rather it should go for reforms," he opined.
About the latest situation of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, he said, "We don't have any information except those published in newspapers. We would know the next development about him after his wife goes to India".
He said that due to complexities of visa formalities, BNP leaders could not meet him (Salahuddin).
Regarding Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants who are being rescued by Thailand and Indonesia, he said, "The situation is being complicated day by day. They (migrants) are taking risks of their lives sailing to the sea due to absence of adequate job opportunities in the country. The government should come up with a project to provide jobs to the unemployed," he said.
"In our party (BNP) we have many leaders who served as ministers. The BNP could help the government if it wishes to take our cooperation for resolving the migration problem," he said.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com