Judges-lawyers cooperation a must for HR protection

Eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain speaks at a seminar on 'Role of media in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and advocacy' at the National Press Club yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

Cooperation between the media and human rights organisations is also vital to ensure human rights, he said at a seminar on 'The role of media in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and advocacy'.

"When I joined the Supreme Court as a young lawyer in the 1960s, there was a great understanding and activism among lawyers and judges on the question of protecting human rights," said Dr Kamal.

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The Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast) organised the seminar at the National Press Club.

Referring to the rise in human rights violations, Dr Kamal, the chairman of the Blast, said the number of writ petitions filed with the High Court has increased markedly nowadays, compared to the previous time.

Those who have taken the oath to uphold the constitution are now becoming the violators of the constitution, he regretted.

Referring to the deaths in 'crossfire', Dr Kamal said, "The state minister for home himself is violating the constitution although he took an oath to uphold it."

Speaking as special guest, noted journalist Ataus Samad said, "We are passing through a bad time due to prevailing confrontational politics."

The newspapers cannot cover many important events as the political scenario has become confrontational, he added.

"Politics has now become power-based and that's why the political parties are desperately running after power keeping aside all principles," said Aatus Samad, the advisory editor of the daily Amar Desh.

He also pointed out that the political leaders engaged themselves in corruption soon after assuming power.

"After assuming power, they (politicians) always think how to become rich. Even their family members also start plundering the country's wealth," he said.

Justice Naimuddin Ahmed, vice-chairman of Blast, said it is not possible to focus on public interest litigation without the help of the media.

"The media persons should be careful while writing about the court and they should not write anything which may tarnish the image of the judiciary," he said.

He also said the definition of contempt of court should be applied carefully.

Giving references to some cases, he said, "The courts are sometimes influenced due to pressure created by the media. In some cases, it was seen that an accused received capital punishment, instead of minor punishment, just because of the role of media."

Describing the deaths in 'crossfire' as custodial deaths, Justice Ahmed said every custodial death must be investigated properly.

Terming the custodial deaths illegal, he said it is the duty of law enforcing agencies to give protection to the arrestees.

The speakers suggested forming a monitoring cell comprising media persons and human rights activists in order to monitor the public interest litigation.

They also proposed setting up a separate bench in the High Court for quick disposal of such cases.

Moderated by Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul, executive editor of the daily Sangbad, the seminar was also addressed by Shah Alamgir, chief news editor of Channel-I, Zayadul Ahsan, chief reporter of The Daily Star, Provash Amin, chief reporter of the Prothom Alo, Golam Mortuza, executive editor of the Weekly 2000, and Faruk Kazi, senior correspondent of the United News of Bangladesh.