US human rights report on Bangladesh is devoid of diplomatic courtesy: Inu

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has dismissed the United States annual report on global human rights that was critical of the Bangladesh government as “bereft of diplomatic courtesy”.

“The report is partial, concocted and baseless,” he told reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday.

His comment came in response to the report that says the Awami League government has limited the lawful right to peaceful assembly.

Referring to human-rights NGOs, US Acting Secretary of State John J Sullivan said in the report on Bangladesh’s human rights situation in 2017 that authorities “continued using approval provisions to disallow gatherings by opposition groups”.

Inu said, “The United States has unilaterally published its annual report on human rights. Publishing any report related to a country’s politics, economy and society without taking comment from its government is devoid of diplomatic courtesy.”

Before preparing the report, they should take comment from information, foreign and law ministries, he added.    

The US acting secretary released the report on about 200 countries on Friday.

The report said the government limited the lawful right to peaceful assembly.

It also alleged the most significant human rights issues, including extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary or unlawful detentions, and forced disappearances by government security forces and the activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) persisted.

The information minister has expressed his resentment over the reference of the rights of NGOs.

Rights groups had published a report on Hifazat-e Islami’s rally in Motijheel on May 5, 2013 and had alleged that police killed thousands of people in the rally.

Following the report, the information ministry asked the rights groups to provide evidence to back up the report, but the groups failed to come up with any.

“The report might not be true if it includes such NGOs’ name,” said the minister.

He binned the contention made in the US report regarding the freedom of press, saying the government respects the idea.

“The government showed no unfriendly attitude towards any media that criticises the government. The government has no control over the media. There is no such evident that journalists feel intimidation and harassment,” Inu added.

The report also said there is a political influence on issuing licences to TV and radio stations, newspapers and publications.

“The licence is issued taking entrepreneurs’ eligibility into account,” claimed Inu, “Not on political considerations.”

The report referred to Jamaat-e-Islami as an NGO and said it has been denied permission to hold rally.

“Any political party or non-political organisation needs permission  to arrange any programme after getting approval from the relevant authorities. This rule is there all over the world. Our country is no different. And Jamaat is a political party, not an NGO.”