UNHR office aims to provide technical support

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Diplomatic Correspondent :

The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner is committed to providing all sorts of technical support, if necessary, to the reform commissions established by the interim government of Bangladesh.

Besides, there has not been any final decision on opening a Human Rights Office in Dhaka.

While holding meetings with the head of various reform commissions at a hotel in the capital, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed his commitment to providing technical support.

On the other hand, during a meeting with the Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday it was learnt that the opening of an UN Rights Commission office has not been finalized yet.

Hailing from the meeting Dr Ifthekharuzzaman, the head of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s reform commission, told the media that the OHCHR is willing to offer technical support to any commission that needs it, and they are also interested in providing logistical support.

The UN High Commissioner emphasized the importance of an inclusive society, he added.

Regarding the meeting, Ifthekharuzzaman who is also the executive director of the Transparency International Bangladesh stated that the discussions with the head of the reform commissions focused on creating an equitable society.

He highlighted the unprecedented potential for building a democratic, well-governed, and corruption-free Bangladesh.

“There was also discussion on addressing various risks in establishing an anti-discriminatory, secular society that promotes equal rights irrespective of religion, ethnicity, gender, or other differences,” he added.

Responding to a question of opening UN Rights office in Dhaka, Touhid Hossain said, “The interim government has not made a final decision on the opening of the United Nations Human Rights office in Dhaka. Discussions on the establishment of the office are still ongoing.”

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“This is currently being assessed. No decision has been made so far regarding whether the Bangladesh government will provide an office or not. We are still examining the issue,” he explained.

When asked whether there is a formal proposal on this matter, he replied that while there hasn’t been a formal written proposal, conversations have taken place.

“Just establishing an office for human rights does not mean that everything will be resolved. Very few countries have such offices. We are considering whether we need it,” he added.

Regarding the progress of the report from the UN fact-finding mission about the events in July-August, Touhid Hossain mentioned that nothing has been formally provided yet, but they have discussed some points.

“I wanted to know how long it would take, and they said it would take about another month to provide the report,” he said.

The foreign affairs adviser also indicated that the UN fact-finding mission could investigate human rights violations if needed after August 5.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the interim government’s Social Welfare Adviser Sharmeen S. Murshid met with a delegation from the UN Human Rights Commissioner Office.

After the meeting, she told reporters that a significant decision has been made and that the UN Human Rights office will be opened in Dhaka soon.

With the establishment of the office, the UN Human Rights Commissioner will be able to directly investigate incidents of human rights violations in Bangladesh.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday for a two-day visit.