NHRC, a retirement home to top bureaucrats: Shahdeen Malik

Eminent jurist Dr Shahdeen Malik today said National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has become a retirement home for top bureaucrats of the government.

After the retirement, these bureaucrats are appointed to the NHRC and for their wellbeing, they stay in service for more three to six years, get good cars and travel to foreign countries, Dr Shahdeen Malik said at a discussion programme in Dhaka.

"Therefore, I do not have any expectation from the National Human Rights Commission for the next three years,” he said at the discussion on United Nations' Recommendation on Enforced Disappearance and Reality, organised by Moulik Odhikar Shurakkha Committee at the National Press Club.

In the government service, there is no culture where an official can express his or her dissent to a senior colleague, Dr Malik said adding that if he has a different opinion, he keeps silent.

"Therefore, constitutionally they are unfit for running and representing the NHRC,” he added.    

It is quite impossible that an official will be able to challenge the government after following instructions of the public office for 35 years, he said.