Bangladesh’s reelection as UNHRC member disproves BNP's propaganda: Hasan Mahmud

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said the propaganda of BNP and anti-country forces was proved false since Bangladesh has been reelected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by a huge margin.

"Bangladesh has been reelected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council bagging the highest 160 votes in the Asia Pacific region. You all know that BNP, some specific persons and some identified organisations are spreading propaganda that human rights are violated in Bangladesh constantly. And they were trying to create confusion by giving false information and data to different countries in the world," he said.

But, the minister said, Bangladesh has been elected as a member of the UNHRC and it has been proved that their evil efforts of creating confusion have become futile and ineffective.

“Rather, it has been proved that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is on the right track,” he said while exchanging views with reporters at the meeting room of his ministry at the secretariat in the capital on Wednesday.

Bangladesh has been reelected as a member of UNHRC for the fifth time on Thursday for the 2023 to 2025 tenure by getting 160 votes out of 189. Earlier, Bangladesh was elected as a member of the council in 2006, 2009, 2014 and 2018.

In fact, Hasan said, human rights were violated extremely in the country during the Ziaur Rahman regime.

“He killed hundreds of armed forces officers and soldiers without any trial,” he added.

Even the executions were carried out first while the verdict of trial was announced later, he said, adding these are documented and have evidence.

Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said hundreds of Awami League leaders and activists were killed during Zia's regime. Begum Khaleda Zia followed him (Zia) and the government of Begum Zia was involved in the brutal August 21 grenade attacks, killings of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Ahsanullah Master, Manzur Imam of Khulna, Humyun Kabir Balu and many other journalists, he added.

But, he said, they (BNP) didn't carry out any proper trial for those. BNP had violated human rights extremely by killing people alive through arson attacks in 2013, 2014 and 2015, he added.

He said the government will present the issues before the globe. The family members of those victims who were killed by Ziaur Rahman have formed an organisation named 'Mayer Kanna' and they are holding human chains in different parts of the country seeking justice, he added.

"Now, I want to know what Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other BNP leaders will say about this," said Hasan.

Replying to a query, the minister said Irene Khan of Amnesty International is a close relative of Tarique Rahman (wife's cousin). Those statements have no value when she gave those (statements) on behalf of Amnesty International, he added.

Replying to another query, Hasan said the government would take proper steps for the security of the people if BNP tries to create anarchy in the name of divisional rallies. Awami League will also be there if the common people resist, he added.

Besides, he said, by-elections will be held there if any lawmaker of BNP resigns.

Criticising the comments of BNP leaders over the power issue, Hasan said BNP gave only 'Khamba' (electric polls). Only 40 per cent of people were under electricity coverage when the AL government took office in 2009, he added.

But currently, he said, cent per cent people of the country are under electricity facilities. So, people laugh when the BNP talks on the power issue, said Hasan.