Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today (Friday) described the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW)’s latest statement on Bangladesh as “one-sided, unacceptable and politically motivated”.   “After reading this, it seems that someone from Bangladesh might have drafted it and they (HRW) only published it after retouching, nothing else,” he said.   “The existence of these types of organizations is good. But if the organization uses itself or gives statement for serving the interests of individuals and for political purposes by taking information from individuals of different countries, it makes the organization questionable,” he said.   Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said this while replying to questions from journalists at his Minto road residence in the capital.   “I saw the statement of Human Rights Watch. It is not realistic by any means, rather it is one-sided and politically-motivated,” he said.   The minister said it seems that the HRW doesn’t know anything more about human rights situation in Bangladesh apart from two or three issues mentioned in the statement.   The statement contained information which is often cited by a writer and some individuals at different meetings and discussions over the Rain Tree Hotel incident, he mentioned.    He urged the HRW to pay attention on incidents of extreme-level violation of human rights in the US from where the organization is run.   A few days ago, the United Nations (UN) independent human rights experts called the US to close the Guantánamo Bay detention centre, he mentioned.   “Guantánamo is a place of arbitrariness and abuse, a site where torture and ill-treatment were rampant and remain institutionalized, where the rule of law is effectively suspended, and where justice is denied”, the experts said on the 19th anniversary of the establishment of Guantánamo Bay on 11 January 2002.   Replying to a question that the government is more active in repressing BNP than curbing the new coronavirus variant - Omicron, Hasan said the government didn’t call for keeping stopped only the rallies of BNP to curb Omicron, rather this prohibition is applicable to all political parties, including the ruling Awami League.   But now the question is whether BNP wants to prevent Omicron or spread it further, he said.   Earlier, the minister joined the biennial conference of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission’s Rangunia Upazila as the chief guest through videoconferencing.     He said the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members, stopping the path of bringing the killers to justice and hanging a huge number of military personnel without any trial are the incidents of major violation of human rights in Bangladesh.   Commission’s Rangunia unit President Principal KM Musa chaired the conference while Upazila Chairman Swajan Kumar Talukder inaugurated it.   Rangunia pourashabha mayor Md Shahjahan Shikder joined it as the special guest. Source: BSS AH

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday suggested that the Bangladesh government should end restrictions on Rohingyas’ freedom of movement and access to the internet and online communications. “Government restrictions have intensified following a failed attempt to repatriate refugees to Myanmar, a large rally by Rohingya refugees, and the killings of a local politician and four refugees,” it said. “Bangladesh authorities have a major challenge in dealing with such a large number of refugees, but they have made matters worse by imposing restrictions on refugee communications and freedom of movement,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of HRW.  The authorities should take a level-headed approach instead of overreacting to tensions and protests by isolating Rohingya refugees in camps, he said. On September 1, 2019, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) ordered telecommunication operators to shut down mobile phone service in the camps within seven days.  The next day, the BTRC ordered mobile network operators to shut down 3G and 4G service in the camps each day between 5 pm and 6 am. While the authorities say the shutdown is to enhance security, they have not explained how.  On September 4, Bangladesh’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense recommended building a security fence around the camps. A standing committee member, Muhammad Faruk Khan said, “We have been observing the Rohingyas are freely moving around the camps and outside. Therefore, to ensure security we recommended taking measures so that no one can come out of the camps and no one can enter inside the camps.” A highly publicized attempt by the Bangladesh government to repatriate Rohingya refugees to Myanmar on August 22 failed because the refugees believe that the current conditions in Myanmar make their return unsafe. That day, alleged Rohingya refugees killed Omar Faruk, 30, a local leader of the ruling Awami League’s youth wing in Teknaf. Law enforcement officers then killed four Rohingya refugees who they said were involved in the murder.  Police claim the Rohingyas were killed in “crossfire”, a phrase often used by security forces in Bangladesh in cases of extrajudicial execution. The government suspended three officials, including the refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, Mohammad Abul Kalam, from Cox’s Bazar for allowing the refugees to organize such a large gathering.  The government also banned certain nongovernmental aid organizations from working in the camps for allegedly supporting the August 25 rally. “Bangladesh authorities and the local community are understandably frustrated that there is no end in sight to the Rohingya refugee crisis,” Adams said. “But they should direct their ire at the Myanmar army and government, which caused the problem, instead of taking it out on refugees.” Source: UNB AH