Dhaka, May 27: Human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Saturday called upon Dhaka and New Delhi to ensure their governments hold rigorous investigations into fatal and targeted attacks on historically and socially marginalised communities, as well human rights defenders in India and against indigenous and secular activists in Bangladesh.
The appeal came hours after high-level interactions between the leaderships of the two nations.
‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina should uphold their commitment to human rights under national and international law, ‘Amnesty’s Executive Director for India Aakar Patel told media here.
The two governments, he said, should recommit themselves to human rights ahead of their upcoming elections. Mr Patel also urged the two governments to ensure space for dissent and highlighted the need for a free press.
‘Both leaders should ensure that space for expressing dissent is not compromised. This can be achieved when both nations have a free and independent press, where journalists are not intimidated, harassed and attacked, and repressive laws are not used to silence them,’ he added.
The rights activist congratulated Bangladesh on its ‘exemplary’ actions in opening its doors to nearly a million Rohingya refugees, but expressed his disappointment regarding New Delhi’s reluctance to give them shelter.
‘Indian authorities should follow Bangladesh’s example and adopt effective measures to protect Rohingya people escaping persecution and state violence. It is the shared duty of both nations to ensure refugees in their countries have supportive systems that are responsive to their needs,’ he asserted.
This was, Mr Patel added, especially necessary in the face of targeted smear campaigns and rising anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Rohingya refugees: Amnesty calls on Bangladesh, India to address human rights concerns
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