End racial discrimination
NHRC chairman urges govt
Human rights activist Hamida Hossain speaks at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday ahead of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Photo: STAR
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rahman yesterday urged the government to take effective measure to ensure equal rights and justice to all the citizens irrespective of races, caste and communities. Discrimination on the basis of race and caste is a clear violation of the constitution as well as human rights. So, the government itself should take the responsibility to end all sorts of racial, communal and caste-based discriminations in the country, he said. Dr Rahman made the call at a press conference jointly organised by the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad (BDP), Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and Parittran at the National Press Club in the city. They arranged the event as part of month-long campaign programme to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21. He announced to include the recommendation of initiating necessary steps to end discrimination in his commission's annual report to be submitted to the president on March 31. BDP General Secretary Ahok Das placed 12-point recommendations to establish their social rights and dignity. Those include formulation of law to eliminate racial discrimination, announcement of 'Untouchability' practice as punishable crime, implementation of the government's election pledges of development of the Dalits, setting up special cell in the NHRC and Women and Children Affairs Ministry for them, arrangement of permanent accommodation for Dalits and reservation of seats in the parliament and local government for them. MJF Director (rights) Rina Roy, human rights activists Hamida Hossain, Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad Secretary General Nirmol Chandra Das, among others, were present.
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