Hasina assails U.S. report on human rights

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed reacted sharply to some observations made in the U.S. State Department report on human rights in Bangladesh, and termed it "unfortunate". "It seems that the report was not done by State Department people on the basis of facts. Rather, it looks like a compilation of some newspaper reports photocopying statements and speeches of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders," Hasina said at a press conference Wednesday.

The Prime Minister noted that the definition of human rights as she sees it should be to see whether the basic needs of the common people are fulfilled, whether they are getting food, work, security, shelter, education and medical treatment.

Hasina added that while preparing such a report, they should take account of whether people are happy and have confidence about their future. The Prime Minister stated: "The law must apply against offenders and terrorists. Since I will have to run the country, steps will have to be taken to provide security to the people. If the law is not applied against powerful and wealthy people, what would happen to the poor? Will the poor be the lone sufferers?"

Hasina observed that no one questions the source of wealth and resources of the opulent, none question whether the wealthy people have amassed their wealth legally or illegally. However, she noted that there are some positive points in the report. "It has become our mindset to feel happy projecting our negative aspects," she said. Hasina disagreed on some statistics shown by the State Department report about the country's GDP and per-capita income.

In sharp contrast, the main opposition BNP Secretary General, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, expressed deep concern over the country's human rights violation that was revealed by the U.S. State Department report. In a statement, he thanked the U.S. government for its objective report on Bangladesh's human rights violation and termed the statement of government leaders as "false and motivated". "The U.S. report gave a picture of gross violation of human rights in the country. The real situation is more pathetic, dreadful and miserable," he noted.

Bhuiyan said after assuming power in 1996, the Awami League government has established a rule of tyranny. The lives and property of the people are not secured. The independence and sovereignty of the country are in peril. He urged the government to refrain from spinning falsehood and quit power immediately, to save the nation.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition in Parliament, Khaleda Zia, has asked the Prime Minister to stand down forthwith to enable the holding of fresh polls. "Let her (Prime Minister) resign before going to Haj," she told a group of reporters Wednesday when asked about a time frame for the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed