The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday said Bangladesh and the international community failed to focus on making democracy work while being critical about allegations of violation of human rights.

Addressing a function organised by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in observance of the International Human Rights Day-2007 at Osmani Memorial Hall he said the present caretaker Government has taken an unprecedented responsibility to restore democracy and make it durable.

"After 36 years of the emergence of Bangladesh as a democratic country, the democracy could not sustain itself," he regretted.

The Law Adviser, however, said the failure is not ours alone as protecting and promoting democracy for upholding human rights is not just a national obligation but also international.

He expressed his satisfaction over the government initiative for establishing Human Rights Commission to strengthen the democratic foundation of the country.

"The Commission will be independent to look into and deal with instances of violation of human rights," he said.

Emphasising the need for making democracy sustainable Barrister Mainul Hosein said, "The stark lesson we have learnt is that election itself is no democracy."

"We expect due importance to be attached by the friends of democracy both at home and abroad when we say that our determination is not only to hold elections but to make democracy sustainable for honest government and better protection of human rights," he said.

The Law Adviser said Bangladesh, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, remains engaged in constructive dialogues with international community in advancing cause of human rights. "Bangladesh is committeed to the principles of sustainable peace in the world," he said.

Decades after the adoption of the human rights convenants, he said the world has yet a long way to go before it becomes free from serious violation of human rights and human dignity is held high everywhere.

"In some parts of the world still human rights are more flagrantly violated than others. Some of the rich and powerful states appear not ready yet to give up might is right attitude of the olden days," he said.

The Adviser, however, said the greatest achievement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is that no country big or small can avoid universal condemnation for violation of human rights.

He said the Constitution of Bangladesh embodies the principles of the UDHR as the fundamental rights for all.

"The preamble of the Constitution proclaims that it shall be a fundamental aim of the state to realise through democratic process a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human right and freedom, equality and justice will be ensured for all

He said the framers of the Constitution made it abundantly clear that unless the democratic process is secure, human rights cannot be secure.