Staff Correspondent

The Peshajibi Manobadhikar Parishad (Professional Human Rights Council) has expressed deep concern over what it described as a severe deterioration of human rights, widespread professional harassment, and administrative negligence under the former interim government led by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

In a joint press statement issued onTuesday, the council's Convener Dr. Md. Jamal Uddin Chowdhury, Co-Convener Prof Dr. M. Wahiduzzaman, and Member Secretary Agriculturist M M Mizanur Rahman stated that their organization operates on the ideals of Bangladesh's independence, the Liberation War, and secularism.

They noted with grave concern that various alarming incidents of human rights breaches have taken place across the country following the political transition after August 5, 2024.

The rights body pointed out that a climate of fear has been created among professionals through mob violence and extrajudicial actions, which directly violate the constitutional right to freedom of expression. They claimed that numerous teachers across various universities, colleges, and schools have faced forced resignations, arbitrary suspensions, and unjust exclusion from academic activities. Furthermore, the statement alleged that journalists and media workers are being subjected to lawsuits, arrests, and dismissals without concrete evidence, while engineers, doctors, agriculturists, and lawyers face severe obstacles, assault, and harassment in practicing their professions independently.

The statement also strongly condemned the cancellation of the lifelong Emeritus Professor appointment of the country’s renowned medicine specialist, Dr. A B M Abdullah, at the Bangladesh Medical University, formerly known as the BSMMU.

The council termed the administrative directive asking Dr. Abdullah to return his salaries and allowances received since June 20, 2024, as an inhumane intervention that severely undermines the dignity of a nationally and internationally acclaimed physician whose protection should be a fundamental responsibility of the state.

Raising serious concerns over public health management, the council claimed that the interim government failed to import measles vaccines following standard procedures, thereby disrupting basic healthcare services guaranteed under Articles 15(a) and 18 of the Constitution. This disruption, they alleged, has resulted in a widespread outbreak, leading to the deaths of over 700 children and leaving more than one lakh children suffering from long-term health complications, which stands as a clear violation of the right to life.

The rights body also highlighted recent reports regarding the disappearance of seven political activists from the Turag Police Station area on June 22, who were reportedly murdered and their bodies dumped into the Turag River. Criticizing the subsequent press statement issued by the police as confusing and contradictory, the council demanded a neutral and fair investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The leaders urged the government to launch immediate probes into all alleged rights violations, suppress the prevailing mob culture, and take effective measures to prevent extrajudicial killings in the future.