Rule of law must to achieve target

The rule of law is a must to achieve the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) world leaders are expected to finalise and set in September for the next 15 years, speakers said at an advocacy discussion yesterday.

"There will not be any financial growth or sustainable development if we cannot establish the rule of law," said Prof Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.

"Today the way ordinary, poor and innocent people are being tortured and oppressed by law enforcement agencies I am afraid what might happen to the future of the nation."

Referring to incidents of crossfire, Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), said, "People have lost their trust in the rule of law to the extent that when someone is killed they say what is there to talk about this. [They say] Had they not been killed, it would have been difficult to maintain peace in society."

The issue came up at a national advocacy programme on "Right to Shelter, Right to Access to Justice and Right to Education" in achieving SDGs, organised by ASK at the capital's Cirdap.

Earlier in the month, the rights body organised three consultations with civil society organisations of the country on three proposed SDG goals -- Goal 4, Goal 11, and Goal 16.

They came up with suggestions of data-based indicators which could be used to plan and evaluate programmes and policies to achieve the proposed goals.