Human rights should develop into a culture, says Asif Nazrul

Professor Dr Asif Nazrul, law adviser of the interim government, has said that human rights need to be deeply ingrained and accepted as a regular culture, not to be seen just as a legal matter.

"We can't ensure human rights through only laws. Everyone needs to truly understand and believe in it," he said.

He made these remarks while speaking at 11th Human Rights Conference 2025, organized by the Human Rights Support Society at Professor Mozaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University on Saturday.

Focusing on the importance of honesty and accountability in institutions, Professor Asif Nazrul said, "All universities must ensure transparency. We need to be self-critical and try to improve ourselves. Only then will legal and institutional changes bring real results."

He also said that the three branches of the state; the executive, legislature and judiciary; must be reformed first. "There's no point in forming commissions or hosting seminars if we don't fix the core problems in these institutions. Real change must start from the root," he added.

Talking about the global picture of human rights, he said, "Many people think that human rights are fully practised in Europe and America. But the truth is, those countries often violate rights in other parts of the world while claiming to protect them at home."

Referring to the current political situation, he said, "When a government loses the fear of being removed from power, it can turn into something dangerous. We've seen this during the fascist rule of the Awami League. Over a thousand people had to give their lives. Thousands more became disabled. These painful sacrifices must be remembered if we want real change. We should stay hopeful but not unrealistic."

The seminar also heard emotional speeches from families of victims of enforced disappearances and political violence. The mothers of July Uprising martyrs along with injured protesters, spoke at the event.

Family members of enforced disappearance victims, including lawyer Ahmed Bin Kashem and indigenous rights activist Michael Chakma, also shared their experiences.

Michael Chakma, who was abducted and later returned alive, describing his ordeal said, "After I was taken, my family and many human rights activists searched for me. At one point, my family lost all hope. My father died in grief, and my family even held my funeral. That's how hopeless they felt. I came back alive, but the question still remains, what kind of future does Bangladesh hold for us?"

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