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: STARStaff Correspondent

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.

And

NHRC chairman urges govt to protect basic human rights of the Dalits

Staff Corespondent

The fundamental rights of the Dalits could be protected if the government implements the constitution appropriately, said the National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur Rahman on Tuesday.

At a news conference by Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, the NHRC chairman also said the state should be more noble and generous in protecting the rights of the Dalits.

The Parishad organised the press conference at the National Press Club on the human rights situation of Dalits ahead of the 'International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 2011'.

While presenting the keynote paper, the Parishad general secretary Ashok Das upheld a 12-point charter which demanded a new act to eliminate racial discrimination and implement the government's electoral promise to include Dalits in the development process.

Mizanur Rahman said there was no need to enact a new law to eliminate racial discrimination as already the constitution of Bangladesh protected the fundamental rights of all people of the country.

He said the state should believe that all human beings are equals and that it should ensure their human rights.

He also urged the Dalits to be united to protect their human rights.

Human rights activist Hamida Hossain said the Dalits should create pressure on the government as according to Section 27 to 29 of the constitution, all citizens have the same human rights.

She also urged the Dalits to use the Right to Information Act, 2009 to protect their human rights.

Manusher Jonno Foundation director Rina Roy said the media should give importance to coverage of the human rights violation of the Dalits.

Bangladesh Harijan Oikkaya Parishad secretary general Nirmal Chandra Das said groups like Kawra, Muchi, Behara, Dai, Dhopa, Dom and Kolu were subjected to discrimination since the British colonial period which is continuing till date.

The parishad demanded formation of a special cells for the Dalits in NHRC and the ministry of women and children affairs, equal rights for Dalits to access hotels, saloons, restaurants, khash land, public safety net programmes, housing programmes, national census and in all social activities.

They further demanded quota system for the Dalits in employment according to the constitution's Section 29(3), reserved seats in parliament for the Dalits and Dalit children's access to all educational institutions.

Leaders of the Dalits across the country were present at the programme.

Best regard

Milan Das
Executive Director
PARITTRAN

(A Human right and Development Organization for the Dalits by the Dalits.)

Vill: Laksmanpur
P.O.:Shubhashini–9420
P.S.: Tala; District: Satkhira
Bangladesh.
Cell.: +880 17 13 42 56 10
Office: +880 17 20 58 71 00
E-mail: dalit_bd@yahoo.com parittran@gmail.com
www.dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/

Anarya Dravid Vanga Indigenous

Saturday, March 5, 2011