The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government yesterday rejected the US State Department's human rights practices report-2007 on Bangladesh as disappointing for its 'lack of balance' in presenting the country's ground realities and misperception.

A senior policy maker of the government said the State Department's observation about the detention of two former Prime Ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, who were arrested on specific corruption charges, was devoid of fact.

The US State Department report released in Washington on Tuesday said Bangladesh's Caretaker Government's human rights record worsened partly due to the state of emergency and the postponement of elections.

The Foreign Ministry in Dhaka said Bangladesh is committed to uphold human rights of all its citizens in accordance with its constitutional obligations.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman pointed out that that all, including the international community, know the circumstances, which led to the declaration of state of emergency early January 2007.

"It is understood that during the State of Emergency, some fundamental rights remain suspended. However, the government is extremely careful in enforcing such provisions so that the fundamental rights are not infringed," he said.

The official further said the Government is disappointed at the report's lack of balance as it failed to mention the significant reform measures taken by the interim administration for consolidating and sustaining a corruption free democracy.

Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin Thursday rejected the US State Department report that says the government imposed unofficial house arrests on former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia and eventually, arrested them on corruption charges after making repeated efforts to force them into exile.

"The State Department can't say that. You have seen the reality of ours. We've kept them with due honour as we have enough respect for them. We're looking after them regularly," he told reporters after a meeting of the Law and Order committee at his ministry.

The Adviser made the remarks when reporters sought his comments on

the State Department Human Rights Practices Report-2007 that mentioned army and DGFI activities under the State of Emergency and house arrests of the two ex-Prime Ministers.

"We will have to think about our reality in our perspective," the senior government official said.

The report said approximately 200 former politicians, government officials, and business leaders were held on suspicion of corruption, extortion, or other abuses of power after the caretaker government began its anti-corruption drive in January.

Quoting Human Rights Watch (HRW), the report said the joint forces led by army held suspects illegally and interrogated, often abused, them and in some cases forced suspects to sign confessions before releasing or presenting them before a magistrate.

In some cases, it said the authorities released detainees after they agreed to file cases against other high-profile suspects.

The report said several high-profile figures, including some members of the leadership of BNP and AL, however, were held for months without any charges filed against them.

The report said the caretaker government implemented legislation developed by the previous government separating the judiciary from the executive.

It said, "The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court frequently overturned politically charged decisions by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court if those rulings went against the government."