The statement given by the United Nations high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet about the human rights situation in Bangladesh has to be considered as logical, balanced and realistic. During her four-day visit to Bangladesh, she held meetings with the law, foreign, home, and education ministers and paid a courtesy call on the prime minister.
She also exchanged views with the rights activists, relatives of the disappeared persons, civil society, diplomats and Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar. It is evident that all quarters have been successful to present and explain their positions to the UN high commissioner for human rights.
There have long been complaints of human rights violations in Bangladesh, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, curbing freedom of expression, and suppression of the opposition. The local and global human rights organisations have consistently been expressing concern over the issues, but the government has always denied these allegations.
The visit of Michelle Bachelet provided an opportunity to assess and monitor the actual scenario.
We think that the statement given by Michelle Bachelet at a press conference at the final stage of her tour is very important for Bangladesh. She asked the government to take into account the allegations of human rights violations, instead of denying them. She expressed deep concern to the government regarding serious allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture and proposed the formation of an independent, neutral and transparent investigative agency to address serious allegations of human rights violations.
From Michelle Bachelet’s statement, we can understand what she perceived about the human rights situation in the country and what her observation actually is. When allegations of human rights violations in a UN member state remain overlooked for a long time, the issue of independent and neutral investigations usually comes to the fore. From this point of view, Michelle's statement contains recognition of the long-standing complaints and demands of human rights organisations and activists at the national and international levels.
Similarly, we were continuously expressing concern about how the digital security act is thwarting the freedom of press and expression and is creating a situation of self-censorship. We were also demanding repeal of the act. Michelle's speech mentioned how this law is restricting the freedom of expression and activities of private institutions.
There is more than a year before the election, but its discussions have already started in the political arena. Michelle Bachelet’s statement contains some advice in this regard.
Ahead of the elections, she emphasised on expanding the scope of civil and political exercise and on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly of political activists, rights activists and opposition parties. She also opined that it is important to ensure the training of the law enforcement agencies so that they can suppress the protests without exerting excessive power.
She will address the UN human rights council meeting next month. Her perception about the human rights situation in Bangladesh from this visit will be reflected in his speech in the meeting. So, the speech she delivered at the end of her trip to Bangladesh cannot be ignored.
We hope that the government will come out of the culture of denial on the issue of human rights violations. We believe that the visit of the UN high commissioner for human rights has created an opportunity to create transparency on all allegations of human rights violations. We also hope that the government will take this opportunity.