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EDITOR
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Editorial
‘Fortnightly’
পাক্ষিক |
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Government creating skilled manpower: PM
Human Rights Report
Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina on 25 November reiterated her
government's initiative to create skilled manpower
to keep pace with the advancement of technology and
face the challenges of 'Fourth Industrial
Revolution'.
"We have to keep pace with the world as far as the
technology is concerned . . . Otherwise, the country
will stay behind," she told the launching ceremony
of 'Freelancers ID' as the chief guest in the
evening.The premier added: "So we don't want to back
down. Keeping this fourth industrial revolution in
mind, we need to create a skilled workforce. If we
don't take right initiative now, we will fall
behind."
The prime minister joined the main event held at the
Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Auditorium at
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar through a video conference from
her official residence Ganabhaban, reports BSS. The
"Virtual ID Card Portal" is to recognize the work of
Bangladeshi freelancers aimed at bringing the
freelancing industry into a shape.Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) Division and
Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society (BFDS)
along with other stakeholders took the initiative to
create database of the country's freelancers and
provide them a digital card, called as 'Freelancers
Identity Cards (ID)'.
In the cards, freelancers' personal information,
their earning statements and also career reputation
analysis will be fixed in the card with a QR code
and only institutions that have agreement with the
BFDS can access it.Currently, about six lakh people
engaged in freelancing in the country of which about
two lakh are regularly earning from it, according to
ICT division sources.
721
people died of Covid-19 in November 2020
Total 68 person killed in November, 2020
The documentation
section of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC)
and International Human Rights Commission-IHRC
jointly furnished this human rights survey report on
the basis of daily newspapers and information
received from its district, sub-district and
municipal branches. BHRC survey found a total of 68
deaths in the killings. According to official
figures, 721 people died of the Covid19 in all over
the country. It proves that the law and order
situation is not satisfactory. Bangladesh Human
Rights Commissions extremely anxious about this
situation. In November 2020, there were an average
of 25 Covid-19 deaths and 2 deaths in killing per
day.
The Law enforcing agencies and related Govt.
departments should be more responsible so that
percentage of killing May be brought down to zero
level. To institutionalize the democracy and to
build human rights based society the rule of law and
order must be established everywhere. Through
enforcing rule of law only such violation against
human rights can be minimized.
It appears from documentation division of BHRC:
Total 167 person killed January, 2020
Killing for dowry 4, killing by family violence 22,
Killed due to social discrepancy 42, Political
Killing 7, Killed by Law enforcing authority 15,
Killed by BSF 13, Killed due to doctor negligence 4,
Abduction 7, Assassination 5, Mysterious death 39,
Women & Chilled killed due to rape 9.
Killed by several accidents:
Killed by road accident 257, Suicide 15
Besides victims of torture:
Rape 60, Sexual Harassment 34, Torture for Dowry 7,
Journalist torture 2.
Bangladesh: Halt Rohingya Relocations to Remote Island
Refugees held on
Bhasan Char island protesting to return to Cox’s
Bazar during a 3-day “go and see visit” to the
island for 40 refugees from the camps in Cox’s Bazar,
Bangladesh, September 5, 2020. Screenshot from a
video recording. © 2020 Private
(New York) – The Bangladesh government should
immediately halt imminent relocations of Rohingya
refugees to remote Bhasan Char island, Human Rights
Watch said today. The authorities have reportedly
prepared a list of 4,000 Rohingya refugees to be
relocated, beginning with transfers to the port city
of Chattogram on December 3, 2020.
The Bangladesh government should commit to a
transparent relocation process, fully informed
consent of transferred refugees and freedom of
movement on and off the island, and heed the United
Nations’ call for a prior independent technical and
protection assessment.
“The Bangladesh government is actively reneging on
its promise to the UN not to relocate any refugees
to Bhasan Char island until humanitarian experts
give a green light,” said Brad Adams, Asia director.
“If the government were genuinely confident in the
habitability of the island, they would be
transparent and not hastily circumvent UN technical
assessments.”
In a statement on December 2, the United Nations
said that it had not been involved in preparation
for this transfer to Bhasan Char and that “any
relocations to Bhasan Char should be preceded by
comprehensive technical protection assessments,”
reiterating that the UN stood ready to proceed with
such assessments “if permitted by the Government.”
European Union Ambassador Rensje Teerink said that
the EU would not comment on relocation to Bhasan
Char until the UN had been allowed to complete
technical and humanitarian missions to the island.
The UN also said that the government should respect
commitments to ensure any relocation is voluntary.
Though the government claims that any relocation
will be voluntary, Human Rights Watch recently spoke
with 12 families who said their names were on the
list, but that they had not willingly volunteered to
relocate. Some refugees on the list have fled out of
fear of forced relocation.
“I have no idea how my name appeared there, but I
never voluntarily put my name on that list,” one
refugee said. “I only learned I was on the list
after the Camp-in-Charge [camp authority or CiC]
called me to his office and told me. After that, I
fled from my shelter. I am hearing now that the CiC
volunteers and majhis (community leaders) are
looking for me and my family. I am afraid that if
they find me, they will force me to go.”
Another refugee said, “My name appeared on the list
so now the CiC has threatened me, saying that since
my name is there, I must go. He said, even if I die,
they will take my body there [to Bhasan Char]. I
don’t want to go to that island.”
The government has provided limited information to
refugees about the actual conditions on the island,
and there are some allegations that the authorities
may have offered misleading information and
incentives to move there. One refugee told Human
Rights Watch that he put his name on the list
because camp leaders told him that those on the list
would be given priority to repatriate to Myanmar,
and would be given 5,000 taka (US$59). But he has
changed his mind about wanting to relocate since he
heard about those currently detained on the island,
and that they are being held in “prison-like
facilities” and don’t have freedom of movement.
Some refugees said that they willingly volunteered
to go to Bhasan Char because they were told by the
majhis and CiC volunteers that they would be able to
choose livelihood opportunities, such as fishing or
farming, that they would have better access to
health facilities, and that their children would get
education.
However, the conditions on the island for the over
300 Rohingya refugees currently held there are poor,
Human Rights Watch said. Those on the island say
they are denied freedom of movement and have no
access to sustainable livelihoods or education.
Refugees on the island said Bangladesh authorities
beat them when they went on hunger strike, pleading
to be allowed to leave the island and return to the
camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Healthcare workers in Cox’s Bazar and refugees who
previously visited the island expressed serious
concerns about the lack of adequate medical care on
the island. One refugee who visited the island
during a “go and see” visit in September said “if
anyone becomes critically ill, the closest option is
a hospital that is a minimum three-hour journey by
boat,” which would be potentially impossible during
monsoon season. He said some refugees on the island
told him that a few days before the visit, one of
the refugees had fallen unconscious, and the
authorities had transported him by naval helicopter
to Chattogram for medical care.
That incident indicates that the island likely does
not have adequate healthcare facilities and that
there is no sustainable plan in place for responding
to medical emergencies, particularly if thousands of
refugees are moved to the island, Human Rights Watch
said. Some of the refugees who visited Bhasan Char
also said that women and girls on the island do not
have access to proper sanitary supplies to maintain
safe menstrual hygiene.
“Donor governments engaged in the Rohingya crisis
response such as the US, UK, Japan, Australia, and
Canada should take a clear stand against this rash
move to relocate Rohingya to Bhasan Char,” Adams
said. “Decisions to move after the completion of
technical assessments need to be voluntary and fully
informed.”
'America is back', says Biden as he unveils team
Human Rights Report:
US President-elect Joe Biden has
unveiled officials for six important posts, as he
prepares to take office.
"America is back", he said, and "ready to lead the
world, not retreat from it".
If confirmed, Avril Haines will be the first female
director of national intelligence and Alejandro
Mayorkas the first Latino homeland security boss,
BBC reported.
Donald Trump has agreed transition moves must start
and Mr Biden will now get a top secret intelligence
brief. However, the sitting president still refuses
to admit defeat, repeating unsubstantiated claims
that the 3 November vote was "rigged".
As well as getting the Presidential Daily Brief- an
update on international threats and developments -
Mr Biden can now access key government officials and
millions of dollars in funds as he prepares to take
over on 20 January.
I will work to
prevent violence against women, and child marriage,"
says Rimu
Human Rights Report:
Rima Sultana Rimu, who has been included in BBC's
annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women
around the world, is active in working to prevent
violence against women and child marriage.
"Young women must play an essential role in
sustaining peace and preventing violence against
them and child marriage across the country. We
should prevent it collectively. As a woman, I am
very much interested to work for women to establish
their rights," she said"
"When I went to work in the Rohingya camp, I noticed
the discrimination against women very closely.
Therefore,
it is necessary to create awareness among women by
educating them," says Rima, who teaches at a school
in Cox's Bazar's Ramu upazila.
"I am grateful to my organization Jago Nari Unnayan
Sangstha and the recognition will inspire me to do
more creative and humanitarian work in the future."
"People need to play a role for the welfare of
themselves. The youth should not give up doing good
deeds. We must always strive to meet the
challenges."
For several years, Rima Sultana has been propelling
humanitarian activities to address the Rohingya
refugee situation - by promoting education for
Rohingya refugee women and children, eliminating
gender inequality, propelling age-based literacy
activities, and promoting peace, security and women
advancement through radio broadcasts and theater
performances.
In 2019, while serving for Jago Nari Unnayan
Sangstha, she was elected the girl's ambassador of
the UN Department of Women's Affairs.
She is also a member of Cox's Bazar-based Young
Women Leaders for Peace and an activist for the
Global Network of Women Peacebuilders working for
the welfare of adolescents from conflict-ridden
countries..
Govt may consider 2nd
stimulus for RMG sector
Human Rights Report:
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi Saturday said that the
readymade garments (RMG) might be granted a second
Covid-19 economic stimulus package considering the
present situation.
"A second stimulus package for the RMG sector can be
considered, if the export situation reverts to
previous condition," the minister said referring to
the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the export
industry.
He was speaking at the virtual inauguration event of
"Go Human, Go Green" initiative arranged by
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters
Association (BGMEA). Tipu Munshi noted that for the
benefit of the RMG sector, the government is always
open-minded. However, he reiterated that paying back
the first stimulus package is also necessary.
"You also need to think about the payback of the
stimulus package that has been given in the past,"
said the minister.
He acknowledged that his ministry has received the
letter from BGMEA for a second stimulus package. "It
has been forwarded to the Finance Ministry with the
recommendation," he added.
Earlier this year, the government announced a
stimulus package of Tk5,000 crore for
export-oriented industries.
WHO reports 3rd straight daily record
Human Rights Report:
The World Health Organization's coronavirus
dashboard yesterday showed a third consecutive daily
record high in the number of new confirmed cases.
The WHO's complete figures for Saturday showed that
465,319 cases were confirmed to the UN health agency
during the day, topping the 449,720 recorded on
Friday and the 437,247 logged on Thursday.
The WHO has warned that some countries are on a
"dangerous track", with too many witnessing an
exponential increase in cases. Within each week, the
pattern of cases being reported to the WHO tends to
spike towards Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and dip
around Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to the WHO's figures, there have been more
than 42.3 million confirmed cases of the respiratory
disease, while nearly 1.15 million people have lost
their lives, including 6,570 on Saturday.
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