Like the prime minister, the ministers and lawmakers should declare that they and their family members are not involved in any corruption, the chief of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently said in parliament that she and her family members were never indulged in any sort of corruption.

Referring to the incident, NHRC Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said the ministers and lawmakers should do the same to make the country corruption-free.

He was addressing a workshop titled “Universal periodic review: Follow-up to the recommendations on economic, social and cultural rights" organised by NHRC at Brae Centre Innin the capital.

Mizanur Rahman said the government should ensure economic, social and cultural rights of die citizens, as proper development of a country was not possible without ensuring die rights.

“We have been listening that we are poor and our resources are limited. We don't want to hear this sort of speech any more. We want to see that the government is serious to ensure the economic, social and cultural rights of the citizens," he added.

Judge of the Appellate Division of Supreme Court, Justice M Imman Ali, said the government should ensure the rights of children, as they could not demand their rights. Child marriage is punishable in the country, but it should be banned, he said.

“The government as well as die society should work together to stop sexual harassment. Moreover, the government should ensure the food security of every family so that children can go to school instead of working outside,” he added.

Information Commissioner Prof Sadeka Halim said the people were still struggling for their economic freedom, though they fought for it in the Liberation War in 1971.

She demanded the government ensure basic needs of the indigenous people.

Khushi Kabir, executive director of Nijera Kori, demanded the government introduce land reform programme as rich people had been grabbing land of the poor ignoring laws.

“All of the basic rights have been subjected to commercialisation. Il seems that the industrial police was introduced to strip the garment workers of their fundamental rights,” she added.