‘Have I lied? You be the judge’

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday claimed that the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) is satisfied with the anti-torture report of Bangladesh.

“I have placed the report, describing the present situation and reality, and the condition of rule of law in Bangladesh before them [review committee of the UNCAT in Geneva, Switzerland]. We observed that they were satisfied,” he said.

The law minister said this while talking to reporters after inaugurating a training programme at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.

On August 4, BNP leader Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon told the media that the real situation in Bangladesh does no corroborate the recent statement placed by the law minister at the review meeting of UNCAT in Geneva.

Yesterday, Anisul Huq said the AL government has ensured the trial of many important cases, including war crimes committed during the country’s Liberation War in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, jail killing case, 10-truck arms haul case and August 21 grenade attack case.

“In this context, I have said the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government has taken all necessary steps to establish rule of law in Bangladesh. Have I lied? You be the judge,” he said.

The law minister placed an anti-torture report on behalf of  Bangladesh for the first time before the review committee of the UNCAT held on July 30 and 31.

He led a 19-member delegation at the meeting -- which included  State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and senior officials  from different ministries, departments and agencies of the government at the meeting.

At the meeting, the minister conveyed to the committee that it can count on having a credible, willing and engaged partner,  working at enhanced compliance with its Human Rights Treaty  obligations.