After advisor says 'Unprecedented Freedom of Speech', TIB presents 52 incidents
Mahdi Amin and Dr. Iftekharuzzaman speak at a discussion meeting at the TIB office on Tuesday. Collected photo.
After Prime Minister's Advisor Mahdi Amin claimed that freedom of speech has been ensured in Bangladesh, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman disagreed.
He provided information on 52 incidents of freedom of speech being breached in the past seven months.
These opposing statements came up at a discussion meeting titled "Democracy, Human Rights and Accountable Government System" held at the TIB office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka on Tuesday (September 15) marking International Democracy Day.
At the event, Prime Minister's Advisor and Prime Minister's Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said, "In the past seven months, unprecedented freedom of speech and human rights have been ensured in the country. Although there are some limitations, during this time incidents like state-sponsored enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings, or deaths in custody have not occurred."
Referring to the Awami League era, he said, "Previously, there was a lack of democracy in the country and fascism was enforced, because the source of power of the then government was not the people. The state machinery, various forces, the judiciary, and the administration were used to hold on to power."
Mahdi Amin also claimed that after the BNP came to power in February, the right to express opinions of people with opposition views or different ideologies has not been taken away.
He said, "The fascist mess of the past 17 years cannot be removed all at once. However, at present, maximum tolerance and coexistence can be seen. Such freedom of speech has not been seen before in history."
After his speech, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, "The statement that not a single incident of human rights violation has occurred does not match the information TIB has."
In response to his statement, Mahdi Amin said, "No incident of human rights violation has occurred for political reasons. During the previous government, a list used to be prepared from a top-level office of the state, and action was taken according to that list. There was direct interference from the top level of the state in this."
The Prime Minister's Advisor assured, saying that if isolated mistakes, errors, or undesirable incidents occur anywhere in the vast state structure, they are being brought under accountability.
In his speech at the event, TIB Executive Director also expressed concern about the law and order situation. He said, "For legitimate reasons, the law and order situation has not yet fully normalized. The police have not been able to turn around morally."
He also highlighted concerns over several incidents.
"In the past seven months, more than 1,700 incidents of violence against girls and women have occurred. Among these, there were 503 incidents of rape. In addition, 51 incidents of torture in custody and seven deaths at the hands of law enforcement agencies have occurred," said Iftekharuzzaman.
At the discussion meeting, Manisha Chakraborty, Member Secretary of the Barishal District Committee of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (BASAD), Tasnim Jara, an independent candidate in the last parliamentary election, and representatives from various professions were present.
