UNHCR, ILO, OXFAM etc. followed by
their successful completion.
In this way, NHRC has been able to
expand and extend its hand and
rightfully established itself as a
significant catalyst for the human rights
movements. In this respect at least three
aspects deserve to be mentioned: 1.
NHRC believes that after forty two years
of independence, right to food cannot
merely remain an aspirational goal;
rather it deserves to be considered as a
fundamental right and accordingly
receive constitutional recognition. NHRC
as such having determined its function is
progressing slowly albeit steadily .2.
Forty two years after independence the
society is still shackled with various
forms of discrimination. The
Constitutional provisions on 'nondiscrimination' have failed to be strong
enough to eradicate such discrimination.
Therefore, NHRC has been working on a
draft Anti-Discrimination Legislation
intending to make any sort of
discrimination a penal offence. We are
hopeful about submitting the Draft
before the Government within next two
months .3. Bangladesh is beautiful as the
habitat of numerous ethnic and linguistic
entities and thus is a perfect illustration
of 'unity in diversity'. But it is a matter of
great regret that on many a occasion the
State and its actors have behaved in a
manner detrimental to communal
harmony. In this respect too NHRC
conducted workshops to make the BGB,
RAB and Police force more sensitive,
responsive and cautious towards the
special rights of the Indigenous people.
This also added a new magnitude to the
NHRC activities.
11.Whatever be our achievement, It has all
been possible because of our combined
effort. Nonetheless when the critics
8
remark that “the presence and
participation of the honorary members
of the NHRC in its activities are not
noticeable enough”- it is then not
possible to dismiss such crude
comments as distortion of facts. NHRC
is fully aware of this practical
predicament and has taken manifold
steps for its resolution. But
unfortunately, none of the steps proved
fruitful. As a way of overcoming this
impediment NHRC has already sent
recommendation to the government
for making the honorary positions full
time and salaried ones. In order the
make the commission more vigilant, the
future commission will resort to
e f fe c t i v e m e a s u r e s a f t e r d u e
consultations with the government,
such is our firm belief.
12.Despite various constrains, last year
NHRC has made impressive
contributions in the field of research
and publications. A number of
researches focused on the observance
of all the various international human
rights treaties which have been signed
and ratified by Bangladesh. Amongst
them the notable ones concern the
ICESCR, the ICCPR, the Convention on
Elimination of All Forms of
D i s c r i m i n at i o n a ga i n st Wo m e n
( C E DAW ) , t h e M i g ra nt Wo r ke r
Convention, Guidelines on Detention,
and the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities etc. Moreover,
the Commission came up with a handy
compilation in Bangla of the major
international human rights treaties and
documents. Two more research
publications on the human rights of the
ethnic minorities are on their way to see
the daylight shortly. Another training
manual on human rights for the law
enforcing agencies is currently in the