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Holzman summoned to protest holding of press confce without permission

’US report contains inaccuracies, half-truths, baseless allegations’
Bangladesh yesterday strongly protested against holding a press conference by the US embassy here without prior permission and release of the Human Rights Report on Bangladesh by the US State Department. reports BSS.
The US Ambassador to Bangladesh John C Holzman was summoned to the Foreign Office this afternoon and handed over an aide memoir lodging the protest.
The aide memoir was read out to the ambassador before it was handed over to him by Foreign Secretary M Mustafizur Rahman.
In an unprecedented move,
the embassy held the press conference at the National Press Club Tuesday to release the Bangladesh portion of the Human Rights Report for 1997 which was earlier made public in Washington.
The foreign secretary later told newsmen that he had pointed out to the US Ambassador that the report contained "Inaccuracies, half-truths and unsubstantiated allegations."
Most of the content of the report was "gathered from the local press as if the press reports were gospel truth." he further said. The report was a "compilation of hearsays and misinformation that badly lacked ob-
jectivity."
The instances of a number of misleading information were brought to the notice of the US Ambassador and it was pointed out that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina never made any commitment to abolish the Special Powers Act (SPA). Rahman said.
He said the US envoy that this act was needed by all the previous governments in view of peculiar circumstances in Bangladesh and that it was used only when absolutely necessary. Unlike some of the previous governments. Rahman mentioned that the present government did not misuse it.
The US Human Rights Report accused the government of using SPA to harass the political opponents and observed that the government "continues to restrict or deny many fundamental rights."
Referring to the observations made in the report that the government infringes on citizens' private rights, limits freedom of assembly and the workers’ rights, discriminates against women, minority groups, religious minorities and indigenous groups and that child labour is a widespread and serious problem, the foreign secretary said these are "vague and unsubstantiated allegations."
He stressed that there was no infringement of citizens' rights, no limitation on freedom of assembly and discrimination against any particular group of citizens. On the contrary, there has been considerable progress in the country on women's rights, child labour, freedom of religion, he said, adding serious efforts are being made to deal with the problems of trafficking in women and children as mentioned in the US Human Rights Report.
The foreign secretary, while citing the case of Shima Chowdhury who died in police custody. Informed the ambassador that under the judicial system in Bangladesh, none could be sentenced without adequate evidence, just as of O J Simpson, the famed US football player who was released for lack of evidence.
He said the report casts aspersion on the fact that the police personnel responsible for her death were tried and acquitted for lack of evidence.
The ambassador Informed the foreign secretaty that because of the Eid holidays they could not Inform the authorities of the release of the report. He was. however, not told that the offices started functioning from Sunday, two days before the press conference was held.
Holzman told the foreign secretary that they also held press conferences in other capitals to release human rights report on respective countries. It is a common courtesy that the host governments are informed of holding such press conferences.
The foreign secretary said the report which depicts Bangladesh as a lawless, violent and crime-ridden country where there Is no security of life. Is a highly misleading portrayal. He brought to the notice of Holzman that the crime in Bangladesh was only a fraction of that in many major states of the United States.
As for the case of Lt Col Faruque Rahman, a self-con-fessed killer in the Banga-bandhu Murder Case, the foreign secretary said there is nothing to substantiate the allegations mentioned in the report that he has been maltreated in prison.
He told the ambassador that Faruque Rahman received the same treatment as other under-trial prisoners. The State De-Iiartment's particular concern or Faruque Rahman was also brought to the notice of the ambassador. Mustaflzifr Rahman told the US envoy the very fact that a diplomatic officer of a foreign embassy could address the media on a matter critical of the government at the National Press Club belles the suggestion made in the report that the media in Bangladesh was not quite free.
On comments of the report on harassment and intimidation of Journalists and replacement of Bangladesh diplomatic missions staff appointed by the previous government by the present government. Rahman said it is a common practice in most countries including the United States to make changes in all political appointments following a change in administration.
About the cancellation of certificates of some English films on grounds of obscenity, the foreign secretary said It is the sovereign right of any government to proscribe materials that are deemed obscene.
The foreign secretary regretted that though the report made reference to the problem of Rohingyas. it did not mention the tremendous strain on resources that Bangladesh had to endure in housing and harbouring over a quarter of a million foreign nationals (Rohingyas) for over five years.
On the finding of the report on Chittagong Hill Tracts. Rahman said the government has. within a short period, taken a bold initiative to resolve what has been an intractable matter for over two decades.
About the allegations of torture and other atrocities by some law enforcing agencies mentioned in the report. Rahman said allegations of atrocities or aberrations on the part of individuals serving In law enforcing agencies are not exactly unknown even In the most developed countries.
Replying to a question, the foreign secretary said that is the initial reaction of the government to the report. A detailed comment will be prepared after gathering accurate information, he added.