Bangladeshi rights activist wins Global Human Rights Defender Awards

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladeshi rights activist Mohammad Nur Khan has won the US annual Global Human Rights Defender Awards for his tremendous struggles to combat human rights abuses in Bangladesh.

Khan, who has been vocal in his opposition to human rights violations against persecuted Rohingya Muslims, was chosen for the award this year by the US Department of State, along with nine others from around the world, for their respective roles in rights protection.

“Over the past three decades, Mr. Khan led two of Bangladesh’s best-known domestic rights organizations and partnered with international organizations to document human rights abuses and promote accountability in Bangladesh,” the State Department said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

The statement went on to say of Khan's outstanding role in the fight against enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, "his timely interventions, advocacy on behalf of families of victims of enforced disappearances, and leadership amongst the country's active civil society networks, have saved lives and cleared innocent victims of politically motivated charges."

Khan is currently the chief advisor of the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) in Bangladesh and has previously served as executive director of another well-known local rights organization, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) or Law and Arbitrary Center.

About the overall contributions of the 10 winners, the statement said “Ten individuals from around the globe have demonstrated leadership and courage while promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms; countering and exposing human rights abuses by governments and businesses; and rallying action to protect the environment, improve governance, and secure accountability and an end to impunity.”​​​​​​​