The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has again sought an independent investigation on enforced disappearance in Bangladesh.
Nada Al- Nashif, UN acting high commissioner for human rights, also offered the government of Bangladesh its assistance in forming an independent system for investigating the allegations of human rights violations in the country.
She came up with the offer at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
Appraising the session of the immediate past human rights high commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s visit to Bangladesh last month, she said: “During the first ever visit by a High Commissioner to Bangladesh last month, as well as to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the former High Commissioner discussed a full range of concerns with the authorities and offered OHCHR’s support to review restrictive laws governing on-line expression."
Nada Al-Nashif in Monday`s speech reiterated the UN rights body`s concern and expressed the commission’s willingness again to assist Bangladesh on human rights grounds.
She also spoke about the necessity of freedom of speech and the right to hold peaceful demonstrations in the run-up to the next general election in Bangladesh.
She stated that human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and victims’ families should not face reprisals or sanctions for their advocacy work.
The session will continue till 7 October.
