New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently released a report about human rights violations in Bangladesh. The report voiced concern over Bangladesh's human rights situation, particularly the activities of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), in addition to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) that was established by the government to try those who allegedly committed crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation in 1971. The report documented serious abuses committed by the BGB and RAB in 2009 in the name of prosecuting those who took part in a mutiny. The report triggered condemnation by the Bangladesh government, which described the report as part of the international conspiracy against it. A number of ministers came forward with statements denouncing the report. Justice Minister Shafique Ahmed said: “We reject the report because it is false and baseless. We consider it to be interference in the internal affairs of our country." After meeting with the HRW delegation, headed by its Asia Director Brad Adams, during its recent visit to Bangladesh, Ahmed said: “It is not possible for any non-governmental organization to make such observations with regard to the internal affairs of any country. We believe in the rule of law and thus urge them not to publish such reports in the future." Reacting to HRW's demand to dissolve the RAB, Ahmed said: “This is exclusively an issue concerning us whether we want to keep it or dissolve it." When asked about the outcome of his talks with the HRW delegation, the minister said: “We were able to explain to them the reality of the situation because they did not have accurate information about most of the things they cited in the report." The minister was also asked about HRW's criticism of the Bangladesh government with regard to the fact that the ICT does not fulfill international criteria for defining war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. The government failed to amend the law to keep pace with the fundamentals of justice. Reacting to HRW's observations that lawyers, eyewitnesses and investigators were subjected to intimidation, the minister said: “There was no breach of the law with regard to the War Crimes Tribunal." Bangladesh Home Minister Sahara Khatun considered the report to be an “unjust interference" and said that the government and the people should praise the role of the elite anti-crime RAB in halting criminal acts in the country. Meanwhile, minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta said that the findings of the report were a disturbing interference in the internal affairs of the country. “It was the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government that established the RAB and sent its members to America for training. Now HRW is demanding its dissolution and asking who gave the RAB and BGB these rights." He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the government to decide whether to allow the RAB to remain or to dissolve it. Sengupta also asked HRW to consider international basics in future. As one who has been an observer of Bengali affairs since Bangladesh was part of United Pakistan, I believe that the Bangladesh government's move to raise the issue of war crimes allegedly committed 40 years ago has created a bad image of the country in the eyes of international and local human rights organizations. Everyone knows that those who were accused of war crimes after the independence of Bangladesh were Pakistani soldiers. They did not include anyone of those who are now on trial or who have been imprisoned for reasons that have nothing to do with justice. When Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assumed power after Bangladesh won its independence, he issued a general amnesty for all those who were accused of war crimes, saying: “I want to show that Bengalis know how to forgive." In effect, these words had a legal impact and nobody dared challenge them. I recall the names of four prominent figures whom I know personally and I am fully aware of their popularity. I am sure that all of them are innocent. First among them is Prof. Ghulam Azam, former head of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Renowned for his piety and honesty, Azam is a well-known figure who is highly respected in the Islamic world. Second is Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, a famous Islamic preacher and Dawa worker. Third is Syed Mir Qasim, who was the director of the Muslim World League (MWL) office in Bangladesh. Everyone knows about the services rendered by the MWL to Bengalis as well as to the Bihari and Burmese refugees in Bangladesh. And fourth is Sayed Salahuddin Qadar Chowdhury, who served as minister in various governments, and who was a nominee for the post of secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Chowdhury, a sitting member of parliament, belongs to a well-known and respectable family in Chittagong and his father was the president of the Pakistan National Society before the creation of Bangladesh. Chowdhury has been denied bail and refused permission to leave prison even to attend parliament sessions. I hope that those who are at the helm of affairs in Bangladesh, especially Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will realize that putting these leaders in jail has drawn the wrath of a large number of people because everyone knows that the charges against them are politically motivated. — Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdy is a former Saudi diplomat who specializes in Southeast Asian affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]
