President M Abdul Hamid on Wednesday asked members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take special care on the human rights related issues, specially protecting the rights of the physically-challenged. “Almost all aspects of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) are related to the affairs of human rights . . . To attain a sustainable development, we must ensure human rights at all strata of life,” the President told NHRC delegation that submitted its annual report-2018 to the President at Bangabhaban in the capital, reports BSS.
The President was apprised of overall activities of the human rights commission, including different aspects of the annual report, President’s Press Secretary M Joynal Abedin told the state news agency. “Take effective measures to create mass awareness on different human rights related issues at the grassroots,” Abedin quoted the President as saying.
NHRC chairman also sought all-out cooperation of the President to construct a permanent building for the commission’s office in the capital. The head of the state gave a patient hearing of the NHRC delegation members and assured them of providing all kinds of necessary supports in ensuring smooth functioning of its activities, the press secretary added.
President Hamid assured the delegation of providing all necessary supports to the NHRC to carry out its activities. NHRC Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque led the eight-member delegation. Other members of the delegation included: Md Nazrul Islam, Begum Nurun Nahar Osmani, Enamul Haque Chowdhury and Prof Akhter Hossain.
Secretaries concerned to the President, among others, were present. Meanwhile, the annual reports of Information Commission was also submitted to the president on the day. Getting the annual Information Commission report, President M Abdul Hamid Wednesday asked all concerned at the Information Commission (IC) to be more active so that the people of all strata, including the grassroots, can get their desired information.
“People’s fundamental and constitutional right is to get information… Be more active so that the rich, the poor and all people irrespective of religion and caste can get information as per their demands,” the President said when a delegation of the Information Commission, led by Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Mortuza Ahmed, submitted its annual report 2018 to him at Bangabhaban.
Briefing reporters, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said the delegation apprised the President of various activities undertaken as part of the awareness campaign of the commission involving the grassroots people, their representatives, officials and employees. Receiving the report, the head of the state suggested strengthening the commission’s overall activities and asked the delegation members to take necessary steps to conduct mass awareness campaigns in this connection at grassroots level.
The President also asked the information commission not to keep its activities confined to the urban areas only and but to extend to grassroots level as well.
“If the people become more aware of their right to information, it will be very helpful to ensure their active participation in policy formulation and execution,” Abdul Hamid observed.
CIC chairman sought cooperation of the President in running the commission’s overall activities. The other members of the delegation were Information Commissioners – Nepal Chandra Sarker and Suraiya Begum – and IC Secretary Md Toufiqul Alam. Secretaries concerned to the President were present during the meeting.