Government plans to involve teachers in counseling »

August 12, 2010

Education Minister informed at ASK seminar

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said that  the government is planning to involve selected teachers in their respective educational institutions as counselors to guide the students.

The Minister said, as it is not possible to appoint counselors at every institution in Bangladesh for lack of resources and trained counselors, the selected teachers would work as counselors primarily. He made this statement at the seminar titled ‘Psychological Well-being of the Society: Need for Professional Mental Health Counselor’ organized by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) on 11 August at the Nabab Nawab Ali Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University.

Along with the increased unrest and insecurity in the society, different problems have been on the rise. So, counseling is needed much more now than earlier, said speakers. Mental stress due to workload and social advancement, disintegration of joint families and loneliness cause despair and finally lead to mental problems, they said.

The minister said the selected teachers would be trained up later to deal with the students properly who are sufferers from increased violence, stalking as well as poverty caused by social unrest. As the students often cannot share their problems with their parents, they need counseling, said the Minister adding that awareness should be created and local committees should be formed to resist stalkers. To create an improved environment for education, a chapter of moral education has been included in the education curriculum. Issues related to stalking would also be incorporated in the school textbooks, he added.

PK Saru, managing director of ASHA Counseling and Training Services, India, presented the keynote paper. Sultana Kamal, executive director of ASK, presided over the session while Deputy Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo Anisul Haque, Prof Mehtab Khanam of Dhaka University and Prof Shaheen Islam, advisor (PSH) of ASK, among others, spoke at the seminar.

Education Minister declares at ASK organized Discussion »

May 18, 2010

Prevention committee to be put in place in every single educational Institution to combat teasing.

Mass social movement is necessary to put an end to teasing. And this awareness must begin at schools- was the overall observation put forwarded by participants in a discussion titled ‘Our role to prevent teasing’ organized by Ain o Shalish Kendra (ASK).

In a discussion organized by ASK held on 18 May 2010, at the conference hall of National theatre of Shlipakala Academy located in Segunbagicha, three female students described their bitter experiences , and expressed their expectations to the society and the State. In recent days incidents of eveteasing have alarmingly increased. Female students and women workers are in main target. From January till 16th May 2010, 14 female and a father of a victim have committed suicide because of incidents relating to teasing. 18 female have been harassed, and 3 have been murdered for speaking out against teasing.

In the open discussion, emphasis was given to consider the entire situation from a psychosocial point of view. The topic of strengthening a collective resistance and ensuring fast implementation of laws was also discussed. Both the students and teachers agreed upon the importance of creating a platform where the victims would be able to share their experience without any hesitation.

Educations Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, who attended as the chief guest, said “As the minister of Education I believe, when female students fall prey to such harassment this indicates that my whole education family is in peril”. Female students, mothers and sisters are not safe anywhere. This is totally unacceptable. To alleviate this worsening situation and to ensure strict implementation of laws, new law may be passed if necessary. Also, effort must be put to build up public opinion and social resistance. The media must also play a vital role. Every school and educational institution should have a prevention committee. Ethics and morals must be incorporated into every school syllabus.

Special guest IGP Nur Mohammed put emphasis on the importance of creating awareness from within the family. It is not possible to put an end to teasing by relying solely on laws. The practice of family and social values has an important part to play here too. This ‘disease’ can be cured if we break our silence and come forward.

ASK chairperson Dr. Hameeda Hossain, who presided over the discussion, thanked everyone and said it is necessary to build up a social movement alongside the existing laws to fight teasing. She stressed the importance of implementing short term and long term resistance.

Executive Director of ASK, Sultana Kamal initiated the discussion with her welcome speech. Sayeed Ahmed presented the key issues of the discussion. Sultana Kamal and advocate Nina Goswami presented the summary of the discussion. Advocate Sanaiyya Faheem Ansari facilitated the entire discussion. Teachers of different educational Institution of Dhaka, representatives of civil society and government officials participated in the discussion.

Visit of Indonesian Women Parliamentarians in Bangladesh »

February 11, 2010

With the commitment of enabling women to use law as an instrument of social change for equality, justice and development, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) facilitates Exchange Program for Members of Parliament under the Women in Power Program. Under the exchange program, three Indonesian Women Parliamentarians’ along with two staff members visited Bangladesh from 18-20 January 2010. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and Steps Towards Development (Steps) facilitated the visit. The visiting parliamentarians were Ms. Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, Ms. Hairiyah and Ms. Denty Eka Widi Pratiwi and the staff members were: Rahmad Hollyson Maiza and Mohammad Bayu.

During the visit, they had meeting with the women activists at Bengal Café, visited the solo exhibition of eminent artist Nazia Andalib Preema. They visited the parliament building, observed a session and had meeting with the Women Parliamentarians of Bangladesh. They also visited the Liberation War Museum, watched the documentary titled “The History of Bangladesh” and attended a press conference there.

This visit was to share experiences among women members of parliament on the obstacles and challenges to meet increasing women’s roles at various levels of decision-making, especially in the Parliament. The visiting parliamentarians discussed strategies and methods, especially in women’s movement-building and in overcoming and confronting these challenges; factors and aspects of women’s participation in politics and governance. The purpose of the visit was also to establish and strengthen cooperation of women in politics and governance. For this they emphasized mutual support, cooperation and linkages of women members in parliament in both Bangladesh and Indonesia to address the issues of women.

Press conference on Human Rights Report 2009 Launching »

January 1, 2010

On 1 January 2010, ASK organized a press conference for Human Rights Report 2009 Launching at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity. The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury was present as the chief guest. Sultana Kamal, the Executive Director of ASK, Nur Khan Liton, and Abu Obaidur Rahman of ASK were also present. A.T.M Morshed Alam, Senior Research Organizer of ASK presented the summary of the report.
 The report observed that there was no notable improvement on human rights or law and order situation in the last one year and that extrajudicial killings and torture on BDR members and their deaths in custody following the BDR mutiny were matters of serious concern. Speaking at the launching ceremony, the NHRC Chairman demanded formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the cases of extrajudicial killings and make the reports public. Observing that there should be strong surveillance system so that no government agency can violate human rights and he also added “No civilised nation can support crossfire.” ASK Executive Director Sultana Kamal said, “The ruling party in its election menifesto said that genuine independence and impartiality of the judiciary would be ensured, extra-judicial killings would be stopped, the rule of law would be established, the Human Rights Commission would be strenthened and made effective and human rights would be strictly enforced but we are yet to see the government implement its commitments for ensuring human rights.”

According to the report, 229 people died in custody of the law enforcers in 2009. Of them, 42 were killed in “crossfire” involving Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 58 in “crossfire” involving police, 23 in custody of RAB and police and two in that of joint forces. Sultana Kamal said it is saddening that Awami League while in the opposition condemned extrajudicial killings, but the party now in power repeats the same. She added, “We fear a serious social degradation when such practice continues,” The report said the BDR mutiny at Pilkhana, which killed 78, came as a shock to the new government. Though it avoided more casualties, the problem started in the trial process, particularly in collecting statements from the BDR personnel. In that conference, it was noted that ASK in its own investigation found that the arrestees were physically tortured in remand. Even, statements have been realised giving the threat of ‘crossfire’.” According to BDR headquarters, 47 died of various diseases till now. “But, various newspapers and our investigation found almost all of them died for gruesome tortures,”the report mentioned. The report also said that a total of 446 women were raped and 62 others were killed after being raped. Some 194 women were killed by their husbands for dowry and 63 were victim of acid throwing. At least 35 women were victimised by fatwas, of whom 20 were sentenced to being whipped in 2009.

ASK said in the report that though the government passed the National Human Rights Commission Bill 2009, its rules have not been framed yet; and members and staffs have not been appointed as yet. ASK urged the government  to make the NHRC a full fleged independent institution and to take rapid initiatives to improve the human rights situation by showing respect to people’s demand.

Ameerah Haq at ASK »

December 29, 2009

On 29 December 2009, Ain o Salish Kendra organized a discussion meeting with Ameerah Haq, the Under Secretary General of United Nations and the Head of Integrated Missions in Timor-Leste. This informal program began at 3 p.m at ASK office. Media and International Advocacy unit of ASK hosted the program. ASK staff members and other civil society members including, Taleya Rehman, Ranjan Karmakar, Mohshin Ali Khan, Zakir Hossain, Bothenki Solomon were present.

Ameerah Haq shared her thirty four years journey of United Nations in a cordial manner. The guests and ASK staff members shared their views about UN and its works, their expectation from UN, sustainability of democracy, how to maintain lobby and establish direct linkage with UN. Ameerah Haq’s pragmatic statement “In any sense UN is not perfect but without it people would have asked for one thing and that is UN” is an apt reply to the questions about UN and the necessity to have a true organization of world nations. Besides she answered many other questions raised by the participants which made the discussion into a wonderful informal meeting. ASK founder member Taherunnesa Abdullah welcomed her with a flower bouquet. Thanking Ameerah Haq, the Executive Director of ASK, Sultana Kamal presented her the latest ASK publications.

Press Conference on the visit of two UN Human Rights experts in Bangladesh »

December 3, 2009

Press Conference on the visit of two UN Human Rights experts in Bangladesh
3rd December 2009, Dhaka Reporters Unity

Human Rights Forum on UPR arranged a press conference on 3 December 2009 at Dhaka Reporters Unity on the eve of a joint visit (3-10 December 2009) of two UN Independent Experts on extreme poverty; safe drinking water and sanitation. The purpose of the Press Conference was to engage and aware journalists, civil society, national and international organizations and relevant actors about the visit of the Independent Experts and its importance for the protection and promotion of human rights in Bangladesh.

The conference was chaired by Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of Ain o Salish Kendra. The welcome note was presented by the Chief Executive of Nagorik Uddyog, Zakir Hossain and written speech was presented by Sayeed Ahmed, the coordinator of the Forum in Bangladesh. Besides Mohsin Ali Khan, the Executive Director of BLAST and B.Solomon, General Secretary of Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movements (BDERM) spoke at the conference.

Written Speech of the Press Conference

 The ‘Special Procedures’ also known as the public procedures refers to the mechanism established by the UN Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues. The Special Procedures are a way for the Council to be constantly engaged on an issue of concern throughout the year. Special Procedures include either an individual, called a Special Rapporteur or Representative or an Independent Expert, or a group of individuals, called a Working Group. Depending on the category of mandates, currently there are two types of Special Procedures: namely, Country Special Procedures and Thematic Special Procedures.

Dear Guests,

In response to the invitation of Government of Bangladesh, UN Independent Experts on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty and the UN Independent Expert on Water and Sanitation will visit Bangladesh from the 3rd to 10th of December 2009. They will examine the situation in Bangladesh regarding safe drinking water, sanitation and extreme poverty in relation to human rights. For this purpose, they will collect the firsthand information from the stakeholders on the relevant issues. Information collected will be drafted into reports to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in 2010. They will be engaged in dialogues with the government, international organizations, the civil society and other relevant actors.

Dear Journalists,
Human Rights Forum on UPR is a network comprised 17 organizations. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is working as the Secretariat of this network. In the beginning of 2009, a review of the overall human rights situation of Bangladesh took place in the UN Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. Keeping in view the review, the UPR forum was established in 2008. The forum sent alternative report to the review process and was also physically present during the review. Such periodic review will again take place after four years in 2012. The UPR forum intends to monitor regularly about the implementations of recommendations made by other states to Bangladesh during the review and the commitments of Bangladesh.

It may be mentioned that in that review, Bangladesh promised to extend full co-operation to the Special Procedure mechanism. Bangladesh also promised to finalize the pending requests soon. In this context, we would like to recall that the last rapporteur who visited  Bangladesh was the Special Rapporteur on Right to Food. The visit took place in 2002. We are appreciative to the Government’s decision for inviting the two Rapporteurs after seven years. But on this occasion, we also want to mention that Bangladesh has agreed on the visit of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in principle but is yet to finalize the schedule of the visit. Besides, Bangladesh has not yet agreed to the visit requested by the Special Rapporteurs on Adequate Housing, Minority issues, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions and Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

Dear Journalist Friends,
The aim of these visiting Experts is to examine the good practices as well as the challenges faced in this country on related issues. Most of the people are living under the poverty line which is the main obstacle in the way to accessing safe drinking water, sanitation and extreme poverty. They will scrutinize these issues with special attention to the most marginalized groups and those living particularly in disadvantaged conditions. They will visit Bihari Camp and the Dalit colony in Dhaka. Outside Dhaka, they are scheduled to visit Comilla, Rohinga camp at Cox’s Bazar and UNICEF project in Sirajganj. They will also attend meetings with Government Officials. Finally, they will complete their visit with a formal press conference on 10th December, 2009.

The information about the experts and their visit in details has already been provided to you.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Press Conference on protesting the Government move to evict Korail Slum »

December 22, 2008

ASK together with BLAST,CUP,BELA and CUS urge the government to refrain from furhter eviction of slums without following the High Court Directions and without ensuring alternative measures for rehabilitation of the slum dwellers. At a press conference held on 22 December 2008, they call upon the government to show respect to the Court’s order and not to proceed on evicting the dwellers of Korail Slum at Gulshan in the Dhaka city. … Read more