Feature

Human Rights Day
2009 Celebrated @ DIU

Md. Ziaul Haque Sumon

THE Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations. Human Rights Day serves as a yearly landmark to remember the victory won in the long struggle to respect the dignity of all human beings. But its main purpose is to mobilize against major threats to human rights, namely poverty, discrimination, gender inequality, climate change and terrorism. “Embrace Diversity, End Discrimination” is the motto of this 61st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration.

“Human Rights Day 2009” celebration programme was held on 10th of December 2009 at Daffodil International University Auditorium jointly organized by the United Nations Information Center (UNIC), Dhaka and Daffodil International University (DIU).

Professor Aminul Islam, Vice Chancellor of DIU, Professor M. Shahjahan Mina, Advisor of DIU, Shahnoor Wahid, Editor, Star Campus, Kazi Ali Reza, Officer in-Charge, UNIC Dhaka took part in the discussion session of the Human Rights Day. M Moniruzzaman, Reference Officer, UNIC Dhaka read the message from the Secretary General of United Nations on the occasion of the Human Rights Day 2009.

In his speech Professor Aminul Islam said that the slavery system has been abolished historically since the time of Emperor Akbar. In fact, the human rights laws came in practice in the Greek and Roman Civilizations. But its practice is not widely seen in the society till date even though the laws were established. He addressed the importance of learning the human rights laws and our duties and added that we should reflect those in our life.

Shahnoor Wahid addressed the present situation of human rights in Bangladesh. He especially pointed out the physical and mental exploitation done to children. He urged the people to provide the child servant with a quilt or blanket instead of letting them sleep on the cold floor of their houses.

Kazi Ali Reza said that human right means assurance of all social and government rights. Poverty and deprivation are the main impediment to human rights. The prerequisite of human rights is democracy and development. He remembered the declaration of human rights of today in 1948 and added that this declaration of human rights was made just after the establishment of United Nations spreading the light in many darkened societies.

Professor M. Shahjahan Mina thanked UNIC for organizing such a programme in collaboration with DIU.

In the Poetry session country's renowned poets Asad Chowdhury, Shihab Sarkar and Muhammad Samad took part with their famous poems related to human rights.

At the end of the programme a short drama on Human Rights titled “We Sing of Equality” was performed by the DIU students.