US Human Rights Report
Md. Firoj Alam, Programme Officer, Water Aid, Banani, Dhaka
I was carefully observing the reaction of our civil society over the US Human Rights Report published at the end of February 2004. I have gone through a couple of write-ups, including the letter of Mr. KR Zaman captioned "The US Human Rights Report" and the article of Mr. Oli Md. Abdullah titled "US Report on Human Rights and Contradiction in Policy" published in The Daily Star on 12 March, 2004. I have observed that many of the writers have tried to establish the argument that the US has no right to criticise other countries for human rights violation, as the US itself is violating human rights all over the world. I think out of deep respect for the rights of human beings, all the writers have come up with many examples of human rights violation by the US. No doubt, the role of the US government has shocked them and they have criticised that country for criticising Bangladesh for human rights violations. After getting the US Human Rights Report 2003, the same reaction sparked in me also. But if we think deeply we will understand that such reaction is a contradiction to our stand because such reaction goes in favour of the human rights violators. I think "who" published the report is not the main issue to be discussed; but the main concern should be "what" is there in the report. Can't we remember how two adivashi youths were shot dead in Modhupur forest recently by the law enforcers? Have we forgotten that all eleven members of a Hindu family in Banshkhali were roasted alive by the politically influential hoodlums? Don't we see the brutal suppression of the noted opposition leaders including the architect of our constitution Dr. Kamal and former president and noted physician Dr. B Chowdhury? These are some clear evidences of human rights violation. So what wrong was there in the report that deserves criticism? Actually we live in a world which is now full of chaos and confusion. The role of the US government after 9/11 has confused the civil society and the human rights violators are taking advantage of that confusion. This confusion is more devastating than the destruction of the Twin Towers. The Secretary General of Amnesty International, Irene Khan, is repeatedly expressing her concern over this issue.
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