December 10, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Over the past 75 years, the most significant objectives of the Declaration have been its pledge to societies to achieve justice, equality and fundamental human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the inalienable rights which all human beings have a right to regardless of color, race, religion, gender, social and political status, language and origin. The theme for the International Human Rights Day of 2023 is Freedom, Equality and Justice For All.
Bangladesh has been experiencing a colossal deterioration of human rights and justice. It can be said that under the current political regime, the Awami League, Bangladesh’s commitment to human rights has virtually been extinguished. The country has witnessed an exponential rise in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture and killings in police custody.
In November 2023, United Nations experts urged the Bangladesh government to address its rapidly deteriorating human rights situation. The United Nations expressed alarm at the threats to media freedom and noted that mass surveillance, threats, harassment and judicial pressures have led to widespread censorship of the media. To quote UN officials, “The weaponization of the judicial system to attack journalists, human rights defenders and civil society leaders diminishes the independence of the judiciary and erodes fundamental human rights.” It is noteworthy to mention that even children are not spared imprisonment, torture and killings by the Awami League law enforcement forces.
These observations have been echoed by The Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy in Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, CIVICUS Monitor, The United States State Department, the European Union, and a myriad of other human rights organizations.
The current political and social climate in Bangladesh has shifted far from the principles of democracy and diminished all of its citizens’ inalienable fundamental human rights.
Human rights are enshrined in Part III of the Bangladesh constitution. However, what can clearly be witnessed for the last 15 years, since the Awami League has been in power is that it has absolutely no intentions of addressing the continual grave human rights abuses which are committed by its security forces and supporters.
The Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy in Bangladesh (CHRD Bangladesh) strongly condemns the habitual violations of human rights in Bangladesh.
The government of Bangladesh should remember that as a United Nations signatory state, it has an obligation to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Human Rights Day and every day.