National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman has criticised the government for arresting the opposition leaders without any specific accusation.
He termed the activities of the government a breach of human rights. “The government can take legal action against those who try to create chaos and kill people, but it is not democratic to arrest them without any specific allegation.”
He was addressing a commemoration ceremony at Dhaka University’s Social Science Auditorium marking the 30th anniversary of the death of Manbendra Narayan Larma.
The national rights body chief was critical of both the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance and the BNP-led 18-party alliance for creating a political crisis across the country.
He also called upon the chiefs of both sides to behave democratically so that the general people of the country could live safely.
The national committee for the 30th anniversary of Manbendra Narayan Larma’s death organised the programme. The organisation’s convener Noman Ahmed Khan chaired the programme.
Mizanur expressed disappointment about the recent atrocities committed against the country’s Hindu community in Pabna and Lal-Monirhat. “What was the state busy with when the lives and belongings of the minorities got burnt down?” he asked.
Speaking at the ceremony, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu stressed the need for the formation of a land commission, a minorities’ commission and an indigenous rights act, to establish and protect the rights of the minorities constitutionally.
Regarding the arrest of BNP leaders, Inu said, police arrested the opposition leaders as they had incited violence and killed many innocent people during their hartals. Jahangirnagar University professor Ainun Nahar, Communist Party of Bangladesh presidium member Shah Alam, Bangladesh Workers Party politburo member Bimal Biswas, and Adivasi Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong also spoke at the occasion.
