Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM)
P.O. Box 5493
Santa Clara, CA 95056, USA
Ph: 212-592-3627
Fax: 212-202-6251
http://www.hrcbm.org
Email: info@hrcbm.org

Bangladesh: HRCBM strongly protests the acts of libel against the organization by the Minister of Industries, Bangladesh, and by the Daily Inquilab.

Santa Clara, USA, June 1, 2004: In an article in the Daily Jugantor (May 31, 2004), Mr. Moulana (Islamic scholar) Matiur Rahman Nizami, the Bangladesh Minister of Industries, and the Amir (head) of Jamat-E-Islami (ruling coalition partner) has made slanderous statements against HRCBM, a human rights organization dedicated to protect, restore and advance human rights in Bangladesh. The Minister’s comments are irresponsible for his position, and can be considered as an act of libel aimed at defaming HRCBM and stopping the human rights activities of the organization in the country.

Mr. Nizami has essentially copied the commentary of the Daily Inquilab (May 29, 2004). The said newspaper is well-known for fabricated news reports and hateful non-news commentaries, and for violating norms of journalism.

A leading newspaper of the country, the Daily Star, in an editorial (http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/06/01/d40601020229.htm ) termed Mr. Nizami’s media bashing as “hypocrisy.” The newspaper asserted, “In alluding to the sinister potential for intervention a la Afghanistan or Iraq, Nizami in effect has cast doubts on the patriotic credentials of the media while trying to take a holier-than-thou attitude.”
The editorial suggested that the high government functionaries like him should admit and try to rectify the problems of hatred and lawlessness in the country. Instead of putting the blame on 'exaggerated media reports', they should see to it that such disreputable acts do not take place in the country.

Please note that in a so-called news-article on May 29, 2004, the Daily Inquilab, termed HRCBM’s rights advocacy as planned propaganda to depict the country as fundamentalist. The newspaper even went as far as calling HRCBM to stop its human rights advocacy.
Without proper verification of the statements that were published in the Daily Inquilab, the Minister of Industries has asserted those in a press briefing. HRCBM considers that highly irresponsible and dangerous. The statements may ignite violence against human rights defenders in the country.

The Daily Inquilab will be requested to publish a rejoinder. Failure to do so may force HRCBM to consider appropriate legal actions under domestic as well as international laws. It should be noted that the said newspaper was involved in fabricated news reports and slanderous commentaries against HRCBM numerous times. Those reports were aimed at developing right wing sentiments and encourage radical Islamists to indulge in violence against the organization. Please also note that there were many attempts on the lives of our representatives in the country as well as attacks on our office in Dhaka. HRCBM has issued several urgent appeals and press releases on those attacks.

World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the United Nations (UN) have expressed concerns on the attacks against HRCBM. In a joint appeal for urgent actions, OMCT and FIDH have called on the government of Bangladesh to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and ensure safety and security of HRCBM activists in the country.

With the defamatory statements of the Minister, it has become obvious that the government of Bangladesh is reluctant to uphold the rule of law and the instruments of rights for which it is a state party. The Minister’s statement is a direct act of libel aimed at instigating violence against the human rights organization of HRCBM. Such acts by a high official of the government is completely uncalled for and dangerous, and is in violation of Article 1 and 28 of UDHR, Article 1(3), 2(2), 2(3) of ICESCR and several articles of ICPR-OP.

Observing the irresponsible statements by the Minster, his act of libel and the same by the Daily Inquilab, HRCBM appeals before the international community to intervene.
The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), a signatory of the International Red Cross (IRC) Code of Conduct, a member of the NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court, and partner of several rights entities, appeals before the international community and to all advocates of human rights for their immediate intervention.

Calling for an immediate end to acts of libel by government officials and radical publications such as the Daily Inquilab, HRCBM strongly demands an immediate apology from Minister Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and from the newspaper. Please note that such acts of libel will not succeed in preventing the human rights advocates of HRCBM from doing their work in the country. It will only strengthen our resolve of serving the oppressed and the destitute humanity of our motherland.

Being a member of the United Nations, Bangladesh must uphold rule of law and human rights for all her citizens. We hereby renew our appeals to the government of Bangladesh to bar its officials from issuing slanderous remarks against rights defenders, the news media and human rights advocacy organizations, and ensure that rule of law is enforced in the country.


Dhiman Deb Chowdhury, President
On behalf of the Board of Directors, HRCBM