Bangladesh
Shahriar Alam Human Rights Watch takes stand against Bangladesh since the war crimes trial
Dhaka, June 26: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam commented that the United States-based international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has consistently taken a stand against Bangladesh since the war crimes trial for some strange reason.
He said this in response to a question from journalists at the 'DCAB Talk' organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) at Rashtriya Guest House Suganga on Sunday. DCAB general secretary Imrul Kayes presided over the discussion meeting, president of the organization Rezaul Karim Lotus.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister said that the Human Rights Watch has been called and discussed on behalf of Bangladesh. They have been told to review any report before publishing it, and give them an opportunity to defend themselves. But they didn't. It has since been decided not to 'engage' Human Rights Watch.
Shahriar Alam said that security forces of Bangladesh have been working for 10 years in the peacekeeping mission. 169 people died there. Those who look down on this achievement and are trying to make it fail are not friends of Bangladesh, they are enemies. Whether they are congressmen, citizens, presidents, prime ministers, they are enemies. It is time to realize that those who influence them with money are also enemies of Bangladesh. There is no reason to react to it. These are internal matters.
Referring to the letters of Congress members to the US President, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the number of such letters will continue to increase as the next election approaches. He also has two letter drafts. He complained that BNP people are going around with money and letter drafts to various politicians in Europe and America. Such a letter is not the position of any state. There is doubt whether those who wrote the letter know Bangladesh well or not.
In response to another question, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the government does not want to spend public tax money on lobbyists or PR firms. Now a company called 'Nelson Molin' is working. Besides, an organization was hired to write articles in the newspaper called BGR. But their contract was not renewed.
