Law Minister trashes HRW report as baseless
Dhaka, July 5 (UNB) - Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed on Thursday shrugged off the report of New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Bangladesh’s human rights situation and elite force Rab and other issues terming it baseless and motivated.
“We reject this report right away …it’s false and baseless…This is interference in the internal affairs of a country,” Shafique said after a meeting with a three-member HRW delegation led by its Asia Director Brad Adams at the ministry.
About HRW’s suggestion to disband Rab, Shafique said, “It’s completely our own affairs whether we’ll continue with Rab or disband it.”
The minister said no NGO can make any remark on the internal matter of any country. “We believe in the rule of law and urged them not to release such report in the future.”
Barrister Shafique went on: “There’s no deviation in holding the trials of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and BDR mutiny, and in the activities of intelligence agency and elite force Rab.”
He said the trials of war criminals and BDR mutineers are being held to establish the rule of law in the country.
Asked what the HRW delegation discussed, the Law Minister said he had detailed discussions with the team and have been able to make them understand the real situation as they have no clear ideas about many things. “They have made this report because of their lack of knowledge about many things about Bangladesh.”
State Minister for Law who was also present on the occasion said, “HRW has published the report at the instigation of a quarter who are trying to destabilise the country. Time has come to take steps against such NGOs.”
The HRW in its report published on Wednesday urged the Bangladesh government to disband the Rapid Action Battalion and set up a non-military unit within the police or set up a new institution to combat crimes and terrorism.
It also urged the government to halt the mass trial of suspects in the 2009 mutiny staged by the members of Bangladesh Rifles (presently Border Guard Bangladesh).
In its 57-page report, `The Fear Never Leaves Me’: Torture, Custodial Deaths, and Unfair Trials After the 2009 Mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles’, provides a detailed account of the mutiny and documents serious abuses in the aftermath, including torture by security forces, particularly RAB, in custody on suspicion of planning the mutiny, and of ongoing concerns about fair trial violations in mass trials of hundreds of suspects at a time.
Talking to UNB over phone on Thursday, Rab’s director (Legal and Media wing) Commander Sohail alleged that the report was motivated and biased, which indicate that they (HRW) have special agenda. “They are trying to tarnish the image of the law enforcers in the country, particularly of Rab,” he said.
Rab’s media director further said: “It seems they (HRW) are committed to patronize criminals and terrorists, and are also trying to deteriorate the existing law and order situation in the country. They are trying to interfere with the judicial process of a sovereignty country.”
He added: “A vested quarter in collaboration with such (rights) organizations is trying to tarnish the image of the country, particularly of the elite force Rab.”
“We reject this report right away …it’s false and baseless…This is interference in the internal affairs of a country,” Shafique said after a meeting with a three-member HRW delegation led by its Asia Director Brad Adams at the ministry.
About HRW’s suggestion to disband Rab, Shafique said, “It’s completely our own affairs whether we’ll continue with Rab or disband it.”
The minister said no NGO can make any remark on the internal matter of any country. “We believe in the rule of law and urged them not to release such report in the future.”
Barrister Shafique went on: “There’s no deviation in holding the trials of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and BDR mutiny, and in the activities of intelligence agency and elite force Rab.”
He said the trials of war criminals and BDR mutineers are being held to establish the rule of law in the country.
Asked what the HRW delegation discussed, the Law Minister said he had detailed discussions with the team and have been able to make them understand the real situation as they have no clear ideas about many things. “They have made this report because of their lack of knowledge about many things about Bangladesh.”
State Minister for Law who was also present on the occasion said, “HRW has published the report at the instigation of a quarter who are trying to destabilise the country. Time has come to take steps against such NGOs.”
The HRW in its report published on Wednesday urged the Bangladesh government to disband the Rapid Action Battalion and set up a non-military unit within the police or set up a new institution to combat crimes and terrorism.
It also urged the government to halt the mass trial of suspects in the 2009 mutiny staged by the members of Bangladesh Rifles (presently Border Guard Bangladesh).
In its 57-page report, `The Fear Never Leaves Me’: Torture, Custodial Deaths, and Unfair Trials After the 2009 Mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles’, provides a detailed account of the mutiny and documents serious abuses in the aftermath, including torture by security forces, particularly RAB, in custody on suspicion of planning the mutiny, and of ongoing concerns about fair trial violations in mass trials of hundreds of suspects at a time.
Talking to UNB over phone on Thursday, Rab’s director (Legal and Media wing) Commander Sohail alleged that the report was motivated and biased, which indicate that they (HRW) have special agenda. “They are trying to tarnish the image of the law enforcers in the country, particularly of Rab,” he said.
Rab’s media director further said: “It seems they (HRW) are committed to patronize criminals and terrorists, and are also trying to deteriorate the existing law and order situation in the country. They are trying to interfere with the judicial process of a sovereignty country.”
He added: “A vested quarter in collaboration with such (rights) organizations is trying to tarnish the image of the country, particularly of the elite force Rab.”
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