The first meeting of the newly formed Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Peace of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad was held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday.
The meeting was chaired by Caucus President Fahima Nasrin, MP, with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, patron of the caucus, attending.
Caucus members Humam Quader Chowdhury, Sayeed Al Noman, Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, Mohammad Nazibur Rahman, Md Abul Hasnat, Jahrat Adib Chowdhury, Sanjida Islam and Anna Minz also attended the meeting.
At the outset, the participants recited verses from the Holy Quran and observed a one-minute silence in memory of the victims of enforced disappearances, killings and extrajudicial killings.
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Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal said the caucus had been formed to identify those responsible for past human rights violations and the victims, present an acceptable account of the incidents and work to prevent the recurrence of such violations, said a press release of Parliament Secretariat.
He stressed that human rights violators must not be allowed to portray themselves as victims.
The Deputy Speaker called upon the executive branch to perform its duties impartially and extend cooperation to expedite the caucus’s activities.
Noting that Bangladesh had not previously formed such a parliamentary caucus, he urged all members to work collectively as a team to establish it as an effective platform.
He also called for coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and other relevant ministries to build a strong institutional framework for the caucus.
The caucus president and members emphasised expanding its activities through engagement with national and international human rights organisations, institutions and universities.
They also stressed the need to organise meetings, seminars and research activities and ensure the participation of caucus members in such initiatives.
The members expressed hope that the caucus would contribute to ensuring a transparent and accountable government and an impartial judicial system for future generations.