Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman LL.M (Hons), MCL (Cum Laude) PGD (Distinction), Dip. in Journalism, Ph.D. Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh Foreword 1. This appears to be the last annual report prepared by the present Commission. Therefore, it seems only natural that the report would contain a description of the multifarious works of JAMAKON during 2015, but would also portray a snapshot of the achievements and challenges of the Commission during the last two tenures (June 2010- June 2013 and June 2013-June 2016) of its functioning. We sincerely hope that the reader will keep this in consideration while going through the pages of the present report. However, no one should lose sight of the fact that no report can claim to be exhaustive or fully complete – that hardly is possible. This report similarly is not an exception. Nevertheless, since this is an Annual Report for the year 2015, it is only logical and reasonable that the report would concentrate more on the events that had taken place during the period July 2014 to June 2015. 2. For a number of reasons, 2015 happened to be a significant and crucial year for JAMAKON- the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh. The beginning of the year was unfortunately marked by heated political activities evolving around the anniversary celebrations of the general elections held in January the previous year i.e. in 2014. Acts of violence and terror resorted to by a number of opposition political parties in the name of politics culminated in the creation of a dire, horrendous situation in the country – destruction of public property, arson, throwing of petrol bombs targeting innocent citizens indiscriminately, including women and children, daily labourers etc. was a direct threat to the life and security of the innocents! No one was safe- whether the new born or the old people! Scream of victims of acid-burn in the burn units of the hospitals made the air heavy threatening the basic right of citizens to safety and security of life! For obvious reasons, JAMAKON could not remain indifferent to this situation of terror and violence. The Commission invited members of the diplomatic corps working in Bangladesh, donor agencies, international development partners, international human rights organizations with presence in the country to a national consultation to apprise them of the catastrophic consequences of the horrendous acts of violence and terrorism resorted to by some opposition political parties in the name of ‘politics’. JAMAKON believes that violence and terror can never be the language of politics. Hence, in the context of prevailing situation in the country, the Commission organized series of awareness programmes making severe critique of the flagrant violation of human rights of the common citizens. This demonstrated, in my opinion, the level of maturity, patriotism and allegiance to human rights standards by JAMAKON. 3. Today it is universally recognized that increasing deterioration of law and order situation poses serious threat to human rights in any society anywhere on the globe. On this premise, JAMAKON has been unceasingly demanding more stern and effective intervention by the state to maintain law and order in the country. However, JAMAKON never forgot to remind the law enforcement agencies of their primary responsibility to ‘play their role within the ambit of law and showing proper respect to the minimum human rights standard’. At the same time, JAMAKON also never failed to reiterate its words of caution to the LEAs that vii JAMAKON