The government should seriously consider Michelle Bachelet's recommendation of an independent mechanism to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, experts said following the UN human rights chief's visit.
Legal and human rights analysts said the UN Human Rights Commissioner's four-day visit, which ended Wednesday, bears immense significance in light of widespread allegations of human rights violations by law enforcement agencies and the US sanctions on Rab and seven of its current and former officials.
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"We have no scope to deny the allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. We should seriously consider the proposal of an independent mechanism to investigate the allegations," Nur Khan, member of Ain O Salish Kendra, told this correspondent yesterday.
He said the state is responsible for solving even one case of disappearance if such a thing happens. But even when there were numerous serious allegations of enforced disappearances, some policymakers made light of them, saying those said to have disappeared actually went into hiding.
During Bachelet's visit, some ministers she met told her that people reported to have gone missing had actually fled after committing crimes, family disputes or going bankrupt. The ministers generally denied that there were enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
"Recently, survivors are giving detailed descriptions of disappearances. So, there is no scope to deny these," Nur Khan said.
Despite demands of independent investigation, authorities have not taken effective initiatives for several years. "If perpetrators are not punished, they will become monsters and society will be full of ills."
He said Bangladesh generally has strong engagement with the UN in terms of economic, gender, peace, humanitarian and development aspects. It is actively supporting Bangladesh on the Rohingya cause. Also, Bangladesh is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.
"Our unwillingness to investigate serious human rights allegations can affect the relationship in other areas of engagement, and we don't want that to happen," the rights activist said.
Prof Mizanur Rahman, former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, said he fully supports Bachelet's proposal of independent investigation into the gross rights violations, but wants the National Human Rights Commission to be effective, instead of keeping it as a mere bureaucratic organisation.
"The serious allegations demand full investigation. People have the right to know the truth even if it is a matter of unease for the government," he said.
During her visit Bachelet recognised the country's remarkable socio-economic progress, and advancements in gender equality and education.
The Chilean official however stressed on bolstering the independence of institutions like the National Human Rights Commission, Election Commission, and the judiciary, and training of law enforcers to improve governance and inclusivity.
On the Rohingya issue, Bachelet said conditions in Myanmar are not yet right for their repatriation. Mizanur said that could give a wrong signal to the Myanmar junta and she should have instead made a strong call for Myanmar to guarantee Rohingya rights and take them back.
He said the UN human rights chief's call for widening civil society space and media freedom was absolutely correct as the Digital Security Act has caused an atmosphere of self-censorship.
Eminent jurist Dr Shahdeen Malik said it seemed that the government does not believe that the citizens of the country have the ability to see and learn of unlawful things, and thinks that the international community is also blind and devoid of any understanding of what is happening in the world.
He said Bachelet was president of Chile, where some of the most horrendous human rights violations were committed and many of the perpetrators were brought to justice. "We hope our government will pay heed to Bachelet's suggestions."
He said the perpetrators of human rights abuses may think they are above the law, but every country, sooner or later, must bring such perpetrators to legal accountability, he added.
Perpetrators of heinous crimes in many South American countries in the last quarter of the last century are being tried, he said, urging the government to initiate legal processes as recommended by Bachelet.
"If the government fails to do so, I am sure subsequent governments in 10, 20 or 30 years will certainly do so."
