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Human
Rights should be at the center of discussion during the Bangladesh
Development Forum
In the run up to Bangladesh
Development Forum which opens tomorrow in Dhaka, Asian Centre for
Human Rights called upon the donors to focus on human rights and
good governance in the deliberations.
“Since the organised attack
on the Hindu minorities following the 1st October 2001 general elections,
human rights situations have been continuously deteriorating in
Bangladesh as exemplified by the organised attack on the indigenous
Jumma peoples at Mahalchari on 26 August 2003, harassment and blacklisting
of the NGOs, attack on the Ahmedias and mass arrest and detention
of opposition political activists under section 54 of the Bangladesh
Penal Code. Without addressing the issue of the rule of law and
protection of rights of indigenous peoples and religious minorities
and the right to freedom of association and assembly of the political
activists and NGOs, broader plans for good governance and economic
development will become increasingly irrelevant and the government
increasingly intolerant”.
“The establishment of a
National Human Rights Commission consistent with Paris Principles
on National Human Rights Institutions could have addressed human
rights issues. However, the government of Bangladesh has turned
the process of establishing the NHRC into a gravy train since 1996.
The Bangladesh Development Forum is hoodwinked every year about
the establishment of a Commission.” stated Suhas Chakma, Director
of Asian Centre for Human Rights.
In particular, the Asian
Centre for Human Rights urges the donor delegates to the Bangladesh
Development Forum to:
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Urge government of Bangladesh to establish accountability for the
attacks on the Mahalchari and fully implement the Chittagong Hill
Tracts Accord in particular rehabilitation of the Jumma refugees
and Jumma IDPs, return of the lands to te Jummas occupied by the
army and the illegal settlers and stopping of free rations to the
140,000 illegal settlers;
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Demand that the National Human Rights Commission is established
before the next meeting of the Bangladesh Development Forum with
representation of indigenous peoples and religious minorities and
women consistent with the Paris Principles on National Human Rights
Institutions;
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Demand the release all political detainees arrested under Section
54 of the Bangladesh Penal Code;
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Insist that all laws and regulations, which curb NGO freedoms, are
abolished.
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