'Human rights commission unable to do anything due to flaw in the law'
About the imposition of US sanctions on the seven former and current RAB officials on charges of human rights violation, National Human Rights Commission chairman Nasima Begum said they cannot directly do anything due to loopholes in the law.
"If the law is amended, the commission will be strengthened and be able to carry out investigations against the law enforcing agencies," she added.
Nasima Begum made the remarks in a virtual dialogue between the commission and the human rights activists. Rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra organised it on Thursday.
She said they did never say their hands and legs are tied and the commission is doing its level best in accordance with the jurisdiction of the law.
According to section 18 (2) of the law, the commission cannot investigate into allegations of human rights violation by the law enforcing agencies, Nasima Begum said adding they can only seek reports.
Castigating the role of mass media, he said, "Media workers think the commission has no work out of enforced disappearances and murders. It can work in every sphere. Everyone draws attention of issues of law enforcing agencies and the commission has limitation there. We want that amendment."
ASK member Abu Ahmed Fazlul Kabir unveiled different incidents of human rights violation in the country throughout this year. He said they prepared this report analysing reports of ten newspapers between January and November.
According to the report, 67 people are killed in 'crossfire', 78 killed in jail custody, 14 killed by Indian Border Security Force and 28 people are killed in mass beating.
Moreover, six people are victims of enforced disappearance, 198 journalists harassed, 130 killed in political violence, section 144 imposed 18 times, 301 people injured in violence towards religious minority, some 1348 children are tortured and 547 children are killed.
As many as 213 women became victims of domestic violence, 1247 women raped, and there are 22 incidents of acid violence and 41 incidents of violence towards housemaids.
ASK executive director Golam Manwar Kamal said the expectation from the human rights commission in some cases is quite high. If the commission shares its tasks with the stakeholders, this would be a good thing. Others will also be apprised if the commission shares its reports, he added.