European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore on Tuesday welcomed the initiatives of Bangladesh to further develop the country’s human rights situation.
He also expressed satisfaction over the government’s move to amend the Digital Security Act (DSA) and the country's labour law.
Gilmore on Tuesday held separate meetings with Law Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah.
According to sources, the EU representative at the separate meetings with the ministers, NHRC chairman and the PM’s Principal Secretary, discussed different issues including the human rights situation in Bangladesh, sending EU observers ahead of the next general election and amending Digital Security Act and labour law.
European External Action Service (EEAS) Political Adviser Viktor Velek, Ambassador Charles Whiteley and First Secretary (Political) Sebastian Riger-Brown, among others, were present at the meetings.
Gilmore, who arrived in Dhaka on Monday on a six-day visit, will hold meetings with many officials of the government and different other stakeholders.
He is also scheduled to discuss the Rohingya issue and visit refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina’s Principal Secretary
UNB reports: The EU on Tuesday welcomed Bangladesh's initiative for development of the human rights further.
During an over one-hour meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, the EU delegation led by its Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore also expressed satisfaction over the Awami League government's move to amend the Digital Security Act and the country's labour law.
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in capital Dhaka.
At the meeting, PM's Principal Secretary assured the UN special representatives of providing the EU all sorts of cooperation from the government of Bangladesh they required.
He also called upon the EU to make sure that Bangladesh's exports to EU member countries will increase further after its complete graduation from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a developing nation.
Next JS poll will be free and fair: Home minister tells EU delegation
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has assured the visiting European Union (EU) delegation that the upcoming general election would be free, fair and in a peaceful manner.
"The election will be held as per the country's constitution in a free, fair," he said while briefing journalists at his secretariat office after an hour-long meeting with the EU delegation led by EU's Special Ambassador on Human Rights Eamon Gilmore.
Terming the meeting with the EU delegation as cordial and friendly, the minister said that they mainly wanted to know about the Rohingya crisis and preparations for holding the next general election.
The Election Commission (EC) will work independently during the three-month time of the government and the then constitutional government will extend their all-out support to the EC, he said.
Replying to a query regarding the capability of law enforcing agencies for holding a free and fair election, the minister said the law enforcing agencies are very much capable and ready to help the EC to conduct a violence free and fair election in the country.
In another query, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said 27 people out of 76 missing people were traced and most of them went into hiding due to various reasons. We would be able to trace out the rest of the missing people, he said.
Meeting with Law minister
After the meeting with the UN special representative, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said the government is revising the DSA, which will be placed in Parliament for amendment next September.
Anisul Huq also said that the DSA has not been enacted to regulate freedom of expression or the media or it is not being used to do these. Several solutions have already been taken to prevent the misuse of the law.
Meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam
According to the official sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore held a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the State Guest House Padma.
At the meeting, they discussed various aspects of the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the EU and vouched to remain engaged to further strengthen the partnership. They also exchanged views on the partnership in trade and economy in the light of the enhanced awareness of the business community and the consumers about human rights, labour rights and sustainability.
Issues such as freedom of expression, open space for media, and upcoming national elections were also discussed, the FM sources said.
Referring to the just concluded election observation mission of the EU, the UE representative said they (the EU Mission) would submit its report to Brussels based on which the decision of sending an election observer would be taken.
He, however, said the EU would like to see free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
The state minister also reiterated the government's position of holding free and fair elections and said they welcome election observers.
“We have discussed elections. But we have not discussed how to bring in other political parties (in elections). It's up to them. We have renewed our commitment to hold free and fair elections. They are fully aware of that,” he said.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs highlighted the EU's contribution to the Bangladesh economy with its “everything but arms” scheme that allowed duty free market access to all Bangladeshi products in the EU member states.
Meeting with National Human Rights Council Chairman
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore also held a meeting with NHRC Chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed at his office.
While talking to journalists after the meeting with the NGRC Chairman, the EU official said they discussed about the human rights and freedom of media situations in Bangladesh ahead of the next general election.
"We have offered several suggestions concerning the issue of human rights in Bangladesh, and they will address those at the governmental level," he said.
Gilmore also said that EU is looking forward to negotiating a new cooperation agreement with Bangladesh, which will take place over the next couple of years.
"We already have a very strong economic relationship. Bangladesh is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the EU's system of trade preferences," he added.
Talking to journalists, NHRC Chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed said the EU special representative mainly talked about the human rights environment in Bangladesh.
"He [Gilmore] knows about the human rights situation in Bangladesh," Kamal said.
Asked if the upcoming national election was part of the discussion, the NHRC chairman said, "Election was not a big part of the discussion. However, we talked about a few incidents regarding the election."
