Pvt rights bodies use ‘commission’ illegally in their names

Five private human rights bodies still use the word ‘commission’ for their names, violating law and a court order.

The NGO Affairs Bureau and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said some private rights bodies add ‘commission’ to their names for their own interests.

The bodies are Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC), Bangladesh Human Rights Development Commission (BHRDC), Society of International Human Rights Commission (SIHRC), Society of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Commission (SBMC) and Bangladesh Manabadhikar Commission (BMC).

The Department of Social Services, the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms and the NGO Affairs Bureau provide registrations for such organisations.

Sources in law enforcement agencies say that these rights bodies are using the word ‘commission’ to cheat people.

Police found specific allegations against the BHRC that it embezzled over Tk 4 million from people in the name of a multipurpose cooperative society.

On June 29 this year, the High Court issued an injunction on the use of the word ‘commission’ after the name of any private rights organisation as it is contradictory to the constitutional body the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and against the law. In response to a writ petition, the HC also ordered the organisations to remove the word ‘commission’ from their names.

They were also ordered not to use the word on their websites, social and mass media and anywhere.

Later, Saiful Alam Dildar, secretary general of the BHRC, appealed to the Appellate Division of the SC, challenging the HC order.

On July 14, the Appellate Division upheld the decision of the HC.

But, the rights bodies are yet to take any step to comply with the apex court order in this regard.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been established under the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009. As per the law, no private rights organisation can use the word ‘commission,’ said SC lawyer Md Bakir Uddin Bhuiyan.

When contacted, Nasima Begum, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said that they already sent letters to the authorities concerned to take steps so that the private rights organizations would remove the word “commission’ from their names.

She also said they will go for next legal action if the word ‘commission’ is not removed from the private rights bodies’ names.

Md Mokbul Hossain, registrar of the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, said that they issued a common letter to all privately-run rights bodies.

“We have already cancelled the registration of the BHRC as per the letter of the constitutional body NHRC,” he said.

He said they would take action against other bodies if they do not remove the word ‘commission’ from their names.

He also said they would not provide registration for any organisation which will have the word ‘commission.’

On July 2, the NGO Affairs Bureau also cancelled the registration of the BHRC.

Shahdat Hossain, director (registration and audit) of the NGO Affairs Bureau, said that they cancelled the registration of the BHRC and would decide on others soon.

But the NHRC is going on its activities under the very nose of the authorities concerned and law enforcers.

According to Rupganj Police Station, the BHRC opened an NGO named Institute Rural Development (IRD) and embezzled Tk 42.15 lakh from a number of clients at Rupganj in Narayanganj.

The police arrested Dildar, secretary general of the BHRC, in a case filed with the police station in connection with the embezzlement.

When contacted, Saiful Alam Dildar said that their activities were going on as usual. “We will remove the word ‘commission’ from our organisation, if other bodies do so,” he said.

He said the BHRC is being run with registrations of the Department of Social Services, Joint Stock Company, the NGO Affairs Bureau, the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission and the New York State Government.

Although the Joint Stock Company and the NGO Affairs Bureau cancelled the registration of the BHRC, three others did not do so.

Dildar denied the allegation of the embezzlement of money.

Muntasirbillah, social services officer (registration and control) of the Department of Social Services, said they will see the matter.

Ruhul Amin, assistant director of the Society of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Commission (SBMC), said they recently lodged a review petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in this regard.

There is no problem for rights bodies to run their activities before the full verdict on the review petition, he said.

None of the BHRDC, the SIHRC and the BMC was available for comments.