Speaker for forging unity to uphold human rights

Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday urged all levels of people for forging unity to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms of people.

Bangladesh has always been at the global forefront in demonstrating its consistent engagement with human rights mechanisms and institutions and in living up to its national and international obligations to promote and protect human rights, she told a conference on "Promoting Equality, Justice and Human Dignity," an official release said yesterday.

National Human Rights Commission organized the conference at the Bangabandhu International Conference centre (BICC) on the occasion of Human Rights Day as the day was observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world marking the 69th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.

Dr Shirin said the government has made relentless efforts to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of each of its citizens drawing inspiration from the nation's constitution.

"Bangladesh always stands by the oppressed people. We have given shelter to Rohingya people on humanitarian ground. Despite resource constraint, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has extended her support to the Rohingya people," she added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now known as 'Mother of Humanity' for sheltering in Bangladesh territory the persecuted Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds, she added.

Dr Shirin said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been hailed for sheltering the Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh territory in the wake of atrocities by the Myanmar armed forces.

"The five-point proposal placed by the PM before the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to resolve the Rohingya problems has helped to put international pressure on the Myanmar government", the speaker added.

Source: bss