The country joins the rest of the world today in observing International Human Rights Day with the theme "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now," in a fitting and meaningful manner.

Various organizations and human rights advocates have planned extensive programs to mark the occasion.

Academics and activists emphasized the importance of concluding trials for past human rights violations and ensuring justice for long-waiting victims as part of the day’s reflections.

"One of the key conditions to safeguard the human rights in Bangladesh is to conduct the trial of each incident of human rights violation and ensure justice to all the individuals and families whose rights were violated in the last 15 years," said Dr Samina Luthfa, of Dhaka University.

She said justice must be ensured to the incidents of killing and torturing and in the cases of extreme violation of human rights during the July-August student-led mass uprising.

Samina urged the government not to be influenced by the majority's opinions while addressing the issues of minorities and marginalized people, rather to take the views and opinions of everyone irrespective of their religion, cast and culture into consideration as far as human rights issues are concerned.

Human rights cannot be established until the rights of each religion, each culture and community and minority groups are protected. The government must have clear statements and initiatives in this regard, she added.

Noted rights activist Nur Khan Liton mentioned how the scenario of human rights in the country has been changed through the July mass uprising.

"Before the uprising, we were shrouded by fear and thus the stories of torture remained suppressed for 16 years", he said.
 
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December - the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

BDST: 1427 HRS, DEC 10, 2024
SMS