Rafique-ul demands court for human rights enforcement

Eminent jurist Barrister Rafique-ul Huq on Saturday demanded formation of a separate court for enforcement of human rights in the country.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and law cannot be made effective without setting up a separate court, he said while speaking at a meeting on the occasion of seventh anniversary of the daily Amar Desh on Jatiya Press Club premises.

The lawyer said people have to approach to the High Court to protect their human rights, since the NHRC has no power to give them relief when their rights are violated.

He alleged that the editor and a reporter of the daily became victim of human rights violation through the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, though the newspaper has been fighting for establishing human rights in the country.

The two served time behind bars due to an order of the Appellate Division, he said.

Acting secretary general of BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told the meeting that his party was born to protect human rights of the people.

He said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has urged all to participate in the struggle for protecting human rights, since the democracy and human rights are in jeopardy.

Mahmudur Rahman, Amar Desh acting editor, said his newspaper has been struggling against violation of human rights and will continue its fight even if BNP comes to the power in future.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Prof Talukder Moniruzzaman and Prof Mahbub Ullah, among others, spoke at the occasion.


(2011-10-15/thedailystar.net)