UN rights office gets ‘go-ahead’ in Bangladesh
Staff Reporter :
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is set to establish a presence in Bangladesh, following the interim government’s agreement in principle to host the office for an initial period of three years.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul confirmed the decision during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Sunday.
He stated that the move stems from ongoing discussions between the UN and the Government of Bangladesh aimed at improving human rights protections, ensuring accountability for past violations, and preventing future abuses.
Nazrul noted that the proposal to open the office had received the cabinet’s endorsement “in principle” during its most recent session.
“The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been accepted in principle at the Cabinet meeting. A few of our advisers will now review the document before it is sent to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Upon final approval, the MoU will be signed, paving the way for the UN Human Rights Office to begin operations in Bangladesh,” he said.
The decision follows a series of violent events in July 2024, when numerous civilians – including students and ordinary citizens – were killed during a mass uprising against the then-ruling Awami League government.
At the time, eyewitness testimonies, video footage, and human rights reports alleged the use of excessive force by security agencies, with allegations of extrajudicial violence involving ruling party affiliates.
In response to the unrest, UN High Commissioner Volker Türk visited Bangladesh and later submitted a detailed fact-finding report that outlined serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and the use of lethal force against unarmed demonstrators.
The report is widely seen as a key factor in prompting the interim government to re-engage with the UN Human Rights Council and take steps towards greater accountability.
The new UN office will have a broad mandate to monitor, investigate, and report on human rights violations in Bangladesh.
It is expected to work closely with national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, and the judiciary to promote justice, support victims, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
Adviser Nazrul emphasised that the office’s presence is not only about addressing past violations but also about establishing a sustainable framework for human rights monitoring.
“We hope that if any rights violations occur in the future, both our national human rights institutions and the UN office will be able to respond effectively,” he said.
The office will initially operate for three years, with the possibility of an extension subject to mutual agreement between the UN and the Government of Bangladesh.
Human rights advocates and international observers have welcomed the move as a significant step towards transparency and reform, particularly after years of criticism over declining democratic standards and restrictions on civil liberties under the previous government.
International watchdogs such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United Nations had repeatedly raised concerns about the erosion of rights and the politicisation of state institutions in Bangladesh.
Officials believe that the UN office could play a crucial role in strengthening the country’s human rights infrastructure.
In addition to monitoring, the office is expected to provide technical assistance for legal reforms, capacity-building for law enforcement, and support for civil society groups.
It may also contribute to improving the independence and effectiveness of national human rights bodies, which have long faced criticism for their limited impact.
The establishment of the office marks a potentially transformative moment for Bangladesh’s human rights landscape, offering renewed hope for accountability and justice in the years ahead.