HRCBM-DFW

Protect HR, ensure freedom of press
US, UK envoys ask interim govt
Staff Correspondent

US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis and British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury yesterday urged the government to protect the human rights and ensure freedom of the press.

Expressing concern at the recent custodial deaths, Butenis said she has brought up the issue during her meetings with advisers to the caretaker government. The government has assured her that steps would be taken for protection of human rights and that due process will be followed with regards to the arrestees.

She was talking to the reporters after meeting Law Adviser Mainul Hosein at his office in the morning.

"A lot of people in Bangladesh and we are concerned about the freedom of the press. I hope the government will expand the boundaries of press freedom," she said adding that the country enjoys a free and lively press that is the foundation of democracy.

On the next parliamentary election, Butenis said, "It is the responsibility of the government and the people of Bangladesh to fix the election date."

The US envoy said her government had raised the annual assistance to Bangladesh by 10 percent and there will be even more in the next fiscal year.

Earlier, Butenis had a meeting with Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam.

President Iajuddin Ahmed has recently promulgated a set of emergency rules designed to curb political and media rights.

The UK envoy Anwar Choudhury, who too met the finance adviser the same day, told journalists that they are always in favour of the press freedom and human rights in Bangladesh.

He said he hopes the government act to shield individual liberty as well as freedom of the media. "We'll continue to look at the issues," he added.

He said they had talked about issues of different ministries that concern the UK.

"We've discussed how to continue the existing projects so that their progress is not blocked," he said, replying to a query.

Mirza Azizul Islam said the United States and the United Kingdom have pledged continued support for the development of the country.

Each of them considers Bangladesh an important partner and wants it to have faster economic growth, he told reporters after meeting the envoys separately at his office.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/01/29/d7012901097.htm