He was addressing a discussion as the chief guest on 'Role of civil society in protecting human rights' organised by Bangladesh Society for Human Rights Research and Survey at the National Press Club in the city.

The law minister said that human rights are violated due to lack of mass awareness. So, awareness among the people should be created.

Chairman of the society Talukder A Razzak presided over the meeting. State Minister for Religious Affairs Mosharef Hossain Shahjahan and Chairman of the Privatisation Board Enam Ahmed Chowdhury spoke at the function as special guests.

"Human rights and fundamental rights are ensured in our constitution," Moudud said, adding that these rights were also executed by the Supreme Court.

The rights are not a one-way traffic. Apart from the government the common people also have responsibilities to implement those, he said.

"People from all walks of life should work relentlessly for protecting the rights and the civil society, should also play due role in this regard," Moudud added.

He said the programmes of calling hartal and barricade are against the rights people. The movement against the rights people. The movement against the people never becomes successful and who are doing so should suffer in the next general elections, he added.

The opposition is trying to create anarchy and destroy the democratic process through these programme, Moudud said adding that the country is incurring a loss of Taka 554 crore per day due to hartal. The opposition called hartals for 119 days during the tenure of the present government, he added.

The law minister said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had restored democracy in the country and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia established parliamentary democracy through the 12th amendment of the constitution.

Mosharef Hossain said nobody can be able to curb the rights of the people. Emphasising the need for protecting the human rights, he said people's rights could be protected by the people and the laws march together.

Enam Ahmed Chowdhury said all should work together for establishing human rights in society.