The United Nations and the European Union on Tuesday stressed the need for Bangladesh to uphold the rule of law and maintain the political, economic and human rights of the people. “A functioning democracy entails the rule of law and good governance,” European Union ambassador Rensje Teerink said at a workshop, adding that the people should get the opportunity to enjoy their social, economic, civil and political rights.
Law- enforcement agencies should not violate human rights and the Digital Security Act should not be used to infringe peoples civil and political rights, she said. Indicating the elections to the two Dhaka city corporations, ambassador Rensje said that the EU ‘will watch with a lot of interest the upcoming municipal elections, at the outcome of a dynamic campaign’.
The foreign ministry organised the workshop to develop a national implementation plan for the universal periodic review on Bangladesh by the UN Human Rights Council, the next round of which is likely to be held in 2023. UN resident coordinator Mia Seppo said that nobody should be harassed and tortured for exercising freedom of speech and human rights.
Law minister Anisul Huq and foreign minister AK Abdul Momen separately claimed that Bangladesh had implemented most of the recommendations made during the first and second universal periodic reviews on Bangladesh by the UN Human Rights Council. National Human Rights Commission chairperson Nasima Begum called for ensuring space for human rights defenders.
People need to know the obligations and accountabilities towards them, she said. Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen moderated the inaugural session of the workshop.