DHAKA, Feb 20, 2019 (BSS) – Planning Minister MA Mannan today said that
the overall human rights situation in the country has improved a lot over the
years as the Awami League government has put due priority to fulfill the
basic rights of people alongside protecting human rights.
“We want to establish and maintain human rights in our country and there
is no doubt about that. There is no alternative to protecting human rights
and that is why we had fought for it during our War of Liberation,” he said.
The Minister was addressing a National Dialogue on the “UN guiding
principles on business and human rights” held at a city hotel.
Ministry of Labour and Employment Secretary Afroza Khan, UNDP Resident
Representative Sudipto Mukherjee, former FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin
Ahmed and Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, spoke at
the dialogue as special guests.
Chaired by the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission Kazi Reazul
Hoque, full-time member of the Commission Md Nazrul Islam gave the address of
welcome.
The Planning Minister said the Awami League government has its own sets of
objectives and priorities and it has been gaining successes in various fields
over the last 10 years through pursuing its own strategy.
“This has been proved fruitful as the Awami League government has assumed
office for the straight third term and in continuation of this, peace,
stability, discipline and comfort is now prevailing in the country,” he
added.
Mentioning that stability is now prevailing in every fields in the country
including academic activities, healthcare services, Mannan said, “This proves
that the strategy that our government and Prime Minister is pursuing is
fruitful and correct.”
He said that the GDP growth, per capita income, electricity generation,
literacy rate, have increased in the country over the last 10 years while the
healthcare facilities have also increased compared to the past.
Noting that the issue of human rights is a priority issue of the
government, Mannan said, “We believe that if we can continue to address the
major issues like food, shelter and healthcare services, then it will be
attained.”
He mentioned that it was the Awami League government that had first
established the National Human Rights Commission and the Information
Commission as well has unleashed various works for ensuring women’s
empowerment and establishing rights of the labour.
The Planning Minister also informed that the government is allowing level-
playing field everywhere be it in business or industries or any other field.
Chairman of National Human Rights Commission Kazi Reazul Hoque said that
Bangladesh has advanced few steps ahead regarding establishing human rights
as the coverage of the various social safety net programmes has been widened
including the facilities of old age allowances, widow allowances, stipends
and the facilities for the physically, mentally challenged and differently
able people.
Former FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said that Bangladesh is now
a ‘role model’ of development while the government and all the concerned
stakeholders have been working tirelessly to establish human rights.