Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has alleged that Amnesty International has become the arm of some governments that want to destabilise Bangladesh, aiming to bring a 'puppet' government to power, reports UNB. "Amnesty International is no longer a human rights organization," he said in his facebook status, posted at 8:39 pm on Friday (Bangladesh time).
Joy, who is also the PM's ICT adviser, slammed a recent report by Amnesty International that claimed that media freedom
was being restricted and journalists harassed in Bangladesh, citing the examples of Shafiq Rahman and Mahfuz Anam.
He recalled that Shafiq Rahman met with and provided money to bribe a former US FBI agent for information about him for which the agent and his two accomplices are now behind bars in the USA.
As Shafiq Rahman was involved in the bribery of an FBI agent, he too would have been behind bars had he lived in the USA, Joy said.
Referring to The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam's 'confession' on television that he wrote 'false' stories of corruption about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Joy said Bangladesh government did not file any charges against him despite the smear campaign.
"Members of our party filed civil lawsuits against him, which is the right of every citizen to seek justice for libel and slander," he said, adding that every member of the Awami League who suffered during that military dictatorship should sue Mahfuz Anam.
"Amnesty International is advocating on behalf of criminals. They are saying that as citizens we do not even have the right to sue journalists in civil court to protect our good name. This is something we need to protest strongly."
Joy also criticised Amnesty International for not making any statements against the military dictatorship of 2007-2008 when politicians and businessmen were arrested and held without any charges, their property seized without any due process, all gross violations of human rights, Amnesty International remained silent.
"I suspect Amnesty International is serving some political agenda. They have become the arm of some governments who want to destabilize our country, with the aim of bringing a puppet government to power. One thing is clear since 1/11; Amnesty International
is no longer a human rights organization."