The International Human Rights Day will be observed in the country like elsewhere in the world tomorrow in a befitting manner.

This year’s theme of the day is ‘Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All.’

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day, wishing all programmes of the day a success.

In his message, the President said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought for the protection of human rights throughout his life.

Bangabandhu skillfully included human rights issues in the constitution of Bangladesh, he said, adding that an independent and impartial organization -National Human Rights Commission- was established in 2009 with the aim of protecting and developing these constitutional rights.

The activities of the Commission should be strengthened at the grass root level to increase public awareness on human rights and protect human rights, the head of the state said.

“Besides, we must be vocal in protecting the rights of all the oppressed people of the world, including Palestine,” he said.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “On the auspicious occasion of the United Nations Human Rights Day, I, on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh, join the international community in reiterating our unflinching commitment to upholding human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).”

This year marks the 75th anniversary of this milestone document, which is equally relevant today as it was 75 years ago, the premier said.

The celebration of this anniversary reminds all of the progress made and the work that still lies ahead in creating a world where equality, freedom, and justice genuinely exist for all, she said.

“Thus, the theme for this year’s Human Rights Day, ‘Freedom, Equality, and Justice for All,’ is apt and timely,” she said.

Bangladesh was born in 1971 through a long and heroic struggle to establish people’s rights and uproot inequality, she said.

“Our enduring experience of being oppressed and deprived guided us to formulate a constitution embracing the UDHR principles under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she added.

In his maiden speech to the United Nations General Assembly in 1974, the Father of the Nation stated, ‘the souls of our martyrs join us in pledging that the Bangalee nation fully commits itself to the building of a world order, in which the aspiration of all men for peace and justice will be realized,’ the premier said quoting Bangabandhu.

She said Bangladesh has duly prioritized the human rights issue in its development trajectory.

 Bangladesh has taken a whole-of-society approach and ensured no one is left behind in the country’s development interventions.

The government has been working relentlessly to secure the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality, justice, and political, economic, and social rights for all citizens, she said.

Internationally, Bangladesh has engaged itself in resolving conflicts, establishing peace, and protecting human rights all around the world, the premier added.

Bangladesh, as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, has significantly contributed to the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide, she said.

“On this International Human Rights Day, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to establishing a just world free of domination, discrimination and deprivation,” she added.

-BSS.