Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said the country’s people should take refuge in the law to secure their human rights.
She, however, admitted that the people face various obstacles in taking the refuge in the country.
Shirin Sharmin was speaking as the chief guest at a programme titled “Recognition to Grassroots Human Rights Activists” in the capital yesterday.
Marking the International Human Rights Day 2014, Manusher Jonno Foundation, a non-government organisation working for promoting the human rights, organised the programme at the Bangla Academy.
Shirin Sharmin said due to lack eduction and financial supports, and social-political pressures people often do not seek the refuge in the law.
“There are lots of work to be done to establish human rights in the country” she said.
Although, the country’s some 20% people are living under poverty line, it is going forward due to patriotism and hard works of the people, the JS speaker added. Speaking on the occasion, Sarah Cooke, country representative of The Department for International Development (DFID) in Bangladesh, said: “Poverty and discrimination are challenges for Bangladesh to ensure human rights, while discrimination is occurred in occupation, ethnicity, gender and disability.”
So, the Bangladesh government should put emphasis on improving education, good governance, legal system and economic opportunities of the people, she said.
National Human Rights Commission chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman said: “The government should not be blamed only, the people should also take responsibilities to promote human rights in the country.”
Some 10 human rights activists were honored with the Human Rights Award 2014 for their outstanding contributions in promoting human rights in the country’s remote areas.
The awardees are Shafiqullah from Subarnachar of Noakhali; Jharna Roy from Collegepara of Khagrachhari; Kasim Uddin from Dhanbari of Tangail; Madhabilata Chakma from Khagrachhari; Kananbala Gupta from Narail; Umme Kulsum Ranjana from Shibganj of Bogra; Birendra Sangma from Mymensing; Kalpana Tirki from Rajshahi; Rahena from Dinajpur and Namita Chakma from Khagrachhari.
Jharnadhara Chowdhury, chief of Gandi Asram Trust in Noakhali, and Anjela Gomez, chief of Banchte Shekha, a non-goverment organisation, and Joti of Bangladesh female football team were also awarded for their contributions in the international arena.
With Barrister Manjur Hasan in the chair, Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, also spoke on the occasion.