‘ICJ ruling will expedite Rohingya repatriation’- Law Minister
The present government has been fighting against corruption. Giving shelters to more than 11 lakh Rohingyas Bangladesh has created bright examples of human rights. I hope the positive verdict of ICJ will accelerate Rohingya repatriation.
Law Minister Anisul Haque said this in a workshop on the implementation of the Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council.
He said after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, the biggest incident of human rights violation occurred in Rohingya incident. The government is committed to protecting any human rights, as stated in the election manifesto. Bangladesh has been an example in the world for economic development in the last 11 years. There has been significant progress in alleviating poverty in the country. No one will be left behind is the core policy of the present government.
In the workshop, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh believes that religion is the festival of all despite respective different religious beliefs. Bangladesh is committed to protecting any human rights. Bangladesh has provided shelter to 11 lakhs Rohingyas. The ruling of ICJ on Rohingya issue is a victory for the human rights of all oppressed people.
Nasima Begum, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said that human rights will be protected when all the instruments of the state work harmoniously. Not only government but non-governmental organizations need to take effective steps.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh has finally accepted 178 recommendations out of 251 recommendations of the UPR forum. The Bangladesh government has given its own ‘note’ on the remaining 73 recommendations.
Of these recommendations adopted by Bangladesh, 25 recommendations relate to the protection of freedom of expression. Bangladesh has formally adopted these recommendations in the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session. International human rights organization Article 19 has welcomed Bangladesh's constructive involvement in the adoption of these recommendations and the third term of UPR.
European Union (EU) ambassador to Bangladesh Rensze Terringk said democracy and human rights are the most important issues related to Bangladesh and the European Union bilateral relation.
On the occasion, Mia Seppo, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh and resident representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) was present.
It should be noted that 'Universal Periodic Review' (UPR) is a unique process of the United Nations Human Rights Council established to improve the human rights situation of the UN member states.
Under this process, after four years, UN member states now have the opportunity to review the human rights situation in their respective states and, in light of this, take steps to improve the human rights situation and fulfill the responsibility to the citizens.
UPR is playing a significant role in promoting the human rights situation as a relatively new and more effective UN human rights council. The human rights situation in Bangladesh was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council under the UPR through universal reassessment mechanism in 2009, 2013 and 2018.