C T Online Desk: Nada Al-Nashif, the United Nations acting high commissioner for human rights, on Monday urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Speaking at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, she also urged Bangladesh’s security forces to refrain from using excessive force against protests.
‘In the polarising environment ahead of the next elections, it will be vital for the [Bangladesh] government to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and for security forces to refrain from using excessive force against protests,’ Nada Al-Nashif said.
‘Human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and victims’ families should not face reprisals or sanctions for their advocacy work,’ she added.
Nada Al- Nashif informed the session about the recent visit of immediate past human rights high commissioner Michelle Bachelet to Bangladesh and her concerns about the country’s human rights situation and suggestions, including the setting up of an independent body against those abuses.
Bachelet visited Bangladesh between August 14 and 17, when she discussed human rights issues with government ministers and met Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.
‘She encouraged the establishment of an independent, specialised mechanism to investigate allegations of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, by law enforcement agencies, particularly by the Rapid Action Battalion,’ Nada Al- Nashif informed Human Rights Council session.
Law minister Anisul Haque and home minister Asduzzaman Khan could not be reached for comments despite several attempts.
Nada Al- Nashif also welcomed under secretary general Volker Türk, whose appointment as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on September 8.
The 51st regular session of the Human Rights Council begins on Monday and will end on October 7.
Apart from Bangladesh, Nada Al-Nashif informed the session about the human rights situation of two dozen African and South American countries. She also informed the session about their work in Nepal and other Asian countries.
Nada Al-Nashif said she was alarmed by the targeting of human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the apparently arbitrary closure orders of seven Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organisations in Ramallah on August 18 and threats of arrest for doing their work.
