Bangladesh News

The government will investigate all cases of extra-judicial killings and try them, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said yesterday.

The present government is against any kind of extra-judicial killing and committed to protect the fundamental human rights of people, he said, adding that the government in its nine months in power has taken many steps to implement these commitments.

Addressing as chief guest at the inauguration of a pilot scheme titled “Human Rights Training for Law Officers and Legal Practitioners” at Hotel Sonargaon yesterday morning, he said the government would hold trials for crimes against humanity that took place since 1971 to 1975 in the country.

Genocides, killings, rapes, and arsons took place during the Liberation War, and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members and four national leaders were brutally killed in 1975, he said, adding that all this constitutes crimes against humanity.

The programme was jointly organised by the Promoting Access to Justice and Human Rights in Bangladesh Project of the Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme.

Shafique Ahmed said the government has taken initiatives to appoint an ombudsman as per provision of the constitution in order to ensure the constitutional rights of the people.

A committee headed by the speaker of parliament will elect the ombudsman within a very short time, he said.

He said the ombudsman can probe allegations against any governmental, semi-governmental or statutory office or organisation, and can recommend proper steps for the government to take.

Presided over by Law Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal, the inaugural function was addressed by State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam, Vice-chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council Abdul Baset Majumder, Chairman of Legal Education and Training Institute of Bangladesh Bar Council and former SCBA president M Amir-Ul Islam, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association AFM Mesbahuddin and UNDP Country Director Stefan Priesnar.

State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam said law officers have to play effective role in building awareness among citizens about their legal, fundamental and human rights.

Amir-Ul Islam said facilities for healthcare, education, food and treatment have to be ensured for establishing human rights of the poor.