State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday criticised the US report on Bangladesh’s human rights situation and said it contains some “misinformation” collected primarily from the “anti-government propaganda machines”.
In an instant reaction, he said they would study the report thoroughly and share the government’s findings with the media on Sunday.
“We cannot make detailed comments within hours after releasing the report. They (US) took a year to prepare the report,” he said.
The State Department on Tuesday released the 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, an annual report required by U.S. law.
US President Joe Biden has put human rights at the center of his foreign policy. The United States is committed to a world in which human rights are protected, their defenders are celebrated, and those who commit human rights abuses are held accountable.
“Working together, we must commit ourselves to promoting respect for human rights. We must speak honestly about the challenges we face. Progress on human rights begins with the facts,” said US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas in a statement.
The state minister pointed out a number of areas of the report in which the State Department blamed the government ‘without any justification’.
“It’s wrong. It's a lie. It’s far from reality,” the state minister said, adding that the government would do whatever necessary to help the US government come out from the “wrong perception.”
For example, the state minister said, the US State Department mentioned the case filed against Tasneem Khalil in Sweden in the report.
“Tasneem Khalil is a Swedish citizen. The government has nothing to do in the case against him”.
Tasneem Khalil, editor of Netra News, is accused of peddling “a wave of disinformation and slanders against the government of Bangladesh” through his offshore portal.
Swedish police authorities last year in October received the submission of a criminal file against him. All European Awami League President M Nazrul Islam, All European AL unit Secretary Mujibur Rahman, AL leaders Mahfuzur Rahman Bhuyian, Hedayet ul Islam Shelly among other filed the submission with Sweden Police.
An US embassy official told a group of journalists on Wednesday that report strives to provide an “objective record” of the status of human rights worldwide. It covers 198 countries and territories for the calendar year 2021.
“It is important that people understand what these country reports are. These are factual reports. To prepare these reports, the State Department works with its missions around the world, experts within the State Department and across the U.S. government, and in consultation with experts on workers’ rights, police and security issues, women’s issues, and a host of other topics. The guiding principle is that all information be reported objectively, thoroughly, fairly,” the official said.
The information in these country reports is used by the U.S. Congress, Executive Branch, civil society, academics, activists, and people everywhere – all of whom have roles to play in promoting human rights and accountability for abuses and violations.
“We cannot view human rights abuses in isolation. Such abuses cause damage well beyond the borders of any single country; unchecked abuses anywhere can contribute to a sense of impunity everywhere. We all have work to do. Recognizing that there is also work to be done at home, we are committed to striving for a fairer and more just society in the United States,” said the official.
“At the Summit for Democracy, President Biden called for a “Year of Action '' and made clear that renewing democracy around the globe begins by working diligently and transparently to strengthen its foundations at home. The Biden Administration has announced specific goals to strengthen democracy, protect human rights, and fight corruption. This includes defending the right to vote, advancing workers’ rights, supporting an independent media, combatting human trafficking, and advancing racial justice and gender equity and equality.
“As we invest in the human rights of our own people, we support our partners around the world at the same time.”
The report focuses on 7 areas of human rights:
1) Respect for the Integrity of the Person, which deals with unlawful killings, disappearances, torture, and arbitrary arrest;
2) Respect for Civil Liberties, including freedom of expression, assembly and association, religion, movement, and protection of refugees;
3) Freedom to participate in the Political Process;
4) Corruption and Lack of Transparency in the Government;
5) Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights;
6) Discrimination and Societal Abuses, including rights of women, children, sexual and gender minorities, ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities; and
7) Worker Rights, including the right to unions and safe working conditions, and the prohibition of forced labor, child labor, and employment discrimination.
