UN human rights body to set up office in Bangladesh
If both sides see the need, the MoU may be renewed after the initial three-year term, says the law adviser
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is set to establish a presence in Bangladesh for an initial period of three years, marking a significant step in enhancing cooperation on human rights issues in the country.
"There has been remarkable progress in discussions between the interim government and the UN Human Rights Office," Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters today (29 June) at a briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy.
He announced that the Council of Advisers has given in-principle approval to a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the office's establishment. The final text of the MoU will be sent to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk for review. Once approved by the UN side, the MoU is expected to be signed promptly, paving the way for the official launch of the office.
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"If both sides see the need, the MoU may be renewed after the initial three-year term," Asif Nazrul added.
Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present at the briefing.
The OHCHR is the UN's principal body for promoting and protecting human rights globally. According to Asif Nazrul, a team of advisers will further examine the draft MoU before final submission. He expressed hope that the UN office will work in coordination with relevant national institutions to address any serious human rights violations.
The move follows the interim government's invitation to the OHCHR for an independent fact-finding mission in the wake of last year's July–August unrest. That mission later submitted a report highlighting widespread human rights violations, including the deaths of approximately 1,400 people during and after the uprising.
