Today is December 10, World Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the United Nations declared this day as World Human Rights Day. Since then, this day is being celebrated all over the world.

Various human rights organizations of the country will observe this day in various ways today.

On the occasion of World Human Rights Day, a number of international organizations, including the US-based Human Rights Watch and the Asian Human Rights Commission, will jointly publish an annual report outlining the global human rights situation.

It is to be noted that since the outbreak of Corona in Bangladesh in March 2020, the human rights situation in Bangladesh has further deteriorated on various issues. Authorities have even arrested and prosecuted several people in the past few months for criticizing the government’s move on Covid-19.

The Bangladesh government issued a notification on May 7 prohibiting all government officials from posting, “liking,” sharing, or commenting that could “tarnish the image of the state” or tarnish the image of the government’s “important people”. Issues a warning to take legal action if the order is violated. Authorities have stepped up surveillance on anyone who could spread “rumors” and tightened controls on the media.

RAB, which has been repeatedly questioned in disappearances and crossfire, has formed a “Cyber ​​Verification Cell” to identify “rumors” about Bangladesh’s Covid-19.

In addition, many have been charged under sections 21, 25, 31 and 35 of the Digital Security Act. Article 21 identifies the war of independence, “any kind of propaganda or propaganda” against the “Father of the Nation, the national anthem, or the national flag” as a crime and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. According to Article 25, any published information or any content which is “offensive or intimidating” which “tarnishes the image of the nation” shall be considered a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years. Article 31 provides for a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for information that is considered “disrupting communal harmony” or “threatening to disturb law and order.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United States, the European Union, Bangladeshi journalists and many others have repeatedly criticized the Digital Security Act for violating Bangladesh’s commitments under international law.

RAB has long been accused of serious human rights violations, including murder, torture and enforced disappearances.

Under international human rights law, governments have an obligation to protect the right to freedom of speech, including the right to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds. These include the freedom to criticize the government, well-known individuals and institutions. Permissible restrictions on freedom of expression due to public health cannot endanger these rights.

Md. Wali Ullah
News Editor
Sristy Barta