Irene Khan says: Bangladesh main problem corruption
Former Secretary-General of Amnesty International Irene Khan Thursday revealed that corruption remains main problem in Bangladesh as it turned life of the right-deprived downtrodden more disastrous."Change has come to many countries but it is yet come in our country. Corruption in the country is massive," she said in her stark observations that she has also laid down in a book from her experience from leading the global watchdog on human rights.
Irene Khan made the remarks while talking to reporters after the launch of her book titled 'The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights' at the BRAC Center in the city.Irene, a Bangladeshi citizen, is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the NGO-major BRAC.
She explained that corruption in the country is immense because "a simple police personnel, registration officer to a cabinet minister resort to corruption".The ex-Amnesty chief executive emphasized establishing human rights of the poor in order to alleviate poverty."If we want to protect human rights of the poor, we also have to empower them," she added.
Asked to comment on the one-year tenure of the AL-led Grand Alliance government, she said although one year is not a long time, the government has done some good works. "But the major problem still lies-and that is corruption."She urged the Finance Minister to include human rights as part of government's initiative to alleviate poverty. The human-right campaigner on the global plane noted that the Human Rights Commission is yet to start their work, the Information Commission has been formed but there is no guidance of its function.
In her book Irene says without tackling discrimination, addressing insecurity and empowering the poor to hold their governments accountable, economic aid is ineffectively applied and it encourages political corruption and injustice while only haphazardly benefits poor people. Finance Minister AMA Muhith addressed the function as chief guest while BRAC chairman Fazle Hasan Abed was present as special guest.
Renowned economist Rehman Sobhan, former advisers to caretaker government Dr. Akbar Ali Khan and Hossain Zillur Rahman also spoke, among others. BRAC Development Institute (BDI) director Prof Syed Hashemi chaired the event.
Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said all humans are born equal with rights. He congratulated Irene on her bringing out this important book "as poverty, given its nature, remains a challenge".
Prof Rehman Sobhan advocated for Irene's accounts on making governments deliver on basic rights by making them mandatory through judiciary and public litigations.
Irene Khan made the remarks while talking to reporters after the launch of her book titled 'The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights' at the BRAC Center in the city.Irene, a Bangladeshi citizen, is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the NGO-major BRAC.
She explained that corruption in the country is immense because "a simple police personnel, registration officer to a cabinet minister resort to corruption".The ex-Amnesty chief executive emphasized establishing human rights of the poor in order to alleviate poverty."If we want to protect human rights of the poor, we also have to empower them," she added.
Asked to comment on the one-year tenure of the AL-led Grand Alliance government, she said although one year is not a long time, the government has done some good works. "But the major problem still lies-and that is corruption."She urged the Finance Minister to include human rights as part of government's initiative to alleviate poverty. The human-right campaigner on the global plane noted that the Human Rights Commission is yet to start their work, the Information Commission has been formed but there is no guidance of its function.
In her book Irene says without tackling discrimination, addressing insecurity and empowering the poor to hold their governments accountable, economic aid is ineffectively applied and it encourages political corruption and injustice while only haphazardly benefits poor people. Finance Minister AMA Muhith addressed the function as chief guest while BRAC chairman Fazle Hasan Abed was present as special guest.
Renowned economist Rehman Sobhan, former advisers to caretaker government Dr. Akbar Ali Khan and Hossain Zillur Rahman also spoke, among others. BRAC Development Institute (BDI) director Prof Syed Hashemi chaired the event.
Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said all humans are born equal with rights. He congratulated Irene on her bringing out this important book "as poverty, given its nature, remains a challenge".
Prof Rehman Sobhan advocated for Irene's accounts on making governments deliver on basic rights by making them mandatory through judiciary and public litigations.
Former adviser Dr. Akbar Ali Khan appreciated that Irene didn't hesitate to criticize those who are liable for poverty and not for protecting human rights.He expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of the AL government as they are "yet to submit the yearly wealth statements of their cabinet ministers, MPs and their family members although they pledged it in their election manifesto in two places"."We get excited, but there was no implementation although a year is gone. In fact, there is no problem in our strategy, the problem is in implementation," he added.
Echoing Irene's views, Hossain Zillur Rahman said poverty is still regarded as the number-one issue in the world. The policymakers need not focus on micro-interventions rather on a major intervention to address the issue.
A Dalit minority leader, Panna Lal, spoke about the continuing social and economic exclusions both locally as well as nationally.
Echoing Irene's views, Hossain Zillur Rahman said poverty is still regarded as the number-one issue in the world. The policymakers need not focus on micro-interventions rather on a major intervention to address the issue.
A Dalit minority leader, Panna Lal, spoke about the continuing social and economic exclusions both locally as well as nationally.
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