A citizen platform has called on the government to establish justice and promptly form a judicial commission to guarantee the proper trial of all human rights violations by state agencies.
At a press conference on Saturday, Nagorik Nirapotta Jote (Citizen Security Alliance) suggested that such a judicial commission be formed to inquire into incidents of extra-judicial killings, disappearances, and custodial death incidents.
A number of citizen groups including Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Nijera Kori formed the alliance.
The alliance also announced its five agenda including staging human chain, submitting memorandum to prime minster, and social media campaign to press its demands.
They demanded that neutral investigations and trials of the people involved occur immediately.
The Association of Land Reform and Development (ALRD) Executive Director Shamsul Huda, who was a speaker at the event, quoted statistics by Ain o Salish Kendra and said: “At least 118 people have been killed in so called “gunfights” with law enforcement officials from January to April this year alone.”
Nagorik Nirapotta Jote also urged the state agencies to follow the High Court order before arresting or detaining people.
The platform expressed its dissatisfaction that the HC directive on forming sexual harassment complaint committees at all educational institutions and workplaces is being ignored.
Speakers also expressed grave concern about the overuse of section 57 of the ICT act for political purposes and to harass people. They called for necessary amendments to the Digital Security Act.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir, and noted human rights activist Hameeda Hossain also attended the program.