The First Annual Conference of Central Caucus of the “Bangladesh Human Rights Defenders’ Forum (BHRDF)” held here today at Rangpur. Delegates from different districts, including Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Satkhira, Rajshahi and Jashore attended the conference. The day-long conference was chaired by BHRDF President Moshfeka Razzak.
In the opening session, General Secretary Habibur Rahman Milon presented the BHRDF’s Annual Report 2017. Advocate AAM Munir Chowdhury was the keynote speaker, while News Network Editor and CEO Shahiduzzaman and Udayankur Seba Sanghtha (USS) Executive Director Alauddin Ali were the guest speakers. At the end of the conference, vice-president of the forum Md. Shafiqul Haque Chhutu gave a vote of thanks to the participants. Activities of the Caucus are a part of an ongoing project titled, “Supporting Human rights Defenders Working for Women’s and Girls’ Rights in Bangladesh”. With the support from European Union, News Network in collaboration with USS has been implementing the project. The participants and delegates appreciated the arrangement and discussed on various issues including strengthening the forum, activity plan for next year (2019), fundraise, build a network with other human rights groups, journalists and media house, and relevant other stakeholders. Delegates also approved the constitution of the BHRDF.

The delegates have demanded enactment of a law to ensure safety and security of the human rights defenders to promote their activities for protecting rights of the women and girls. With a nine-member Executive Committee, the BHRDF was formed on 17 July, 2018. Among them, Moshfeka Razzak and Mr. Habibur Rahman Milon were elected President and General Secretary of the BHRDF respectively. Other office bearers are: vice president Md.Shafiqual Haque Chhutu, joint secretary Milladur Rahman Mamun, treasurer Sayeda Yesmin Rupa and the executives members are M. Kamruzzamna, Remon Rahman, Adv.Anjuman Ara Shapla and Mahbubul Islam. The BHRDF also selected the following persons as its advisers: Md.Sarwar Manik, Md. Akbar Hossain, Dr.S.M Shafiqual Islam Kanu, Md.Anisur Rahim and AKM Samiul Haq.