Crossfire incidents yet to stop: Menon
Despite criticism from different levels, crossfire incidents are yet to stop, said Workers' Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon yesterday.
“The crossfire issue was discussed in parliament several times, but the trend still remains, ignoring hues and cries against it,†he said, adding that failure of law enforcers at times to properly follow guidelines resulted in the incidents.
Menon was addressing an “Advocacy meeting on prevention of torture and the ratification of optional protocol to the convention against torture: Creating national awareness†in the capital's Brac Centre Inn.
Odhikar, a rights organisation, organised the meeting to urge the government to ratify an optional protocol of the UN “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishmentâ€.
The protocol recommends states to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and various other problems prisoners face in jails. Bangladesh ratified the convention in 1998.
“It is unfortunate that the government is still continuing cases against Limon (who lost one leg in Rab shooting in 2011) and his family members,†he said.
However, awareness was being raised against “torture†by law enforcers, who themselves were being trained on human rights issue, he said, adding that a “Torture and Custodial Death (Prohibition) Bill 2009†was under discussion.
European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh William Hanna said democracy and human rights were currently Bangladesh's top priority and lawmakers, civil society members and citizens should come forward to stop any kind of torture.
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