The High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Michelle Bachelet, heard the human rights situation in Bangladesh from human rights activists working in various sectors in Bangladesh. He himself did not say anything in the meeting, he listened. Human rights activists told Michelle Bachelet that there is a human rights crisis due to the lack of democracy in Bangladesh. Sources of the meeting informed this information.
Human rights workers working in Bangladesh met with the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights Commission Michelle Bachelet in the ‘Chatham House’ method. According to Chatham House procedures, meeting information cannot be disclosed. As a result, a human rights activist present in the meeting told Samakal on condition of anonymity that 15 to 16 human rights activists were present in the meeting. They presented the issues of their respective sectors before the High Commissioner. 2 to 3 minutes were kept for each person in the meeting. However, Michelle Bachelet did not say anything about Bangladesh in the meeting. He spoke about the overall human rights situation in the world.
Sources of the meeting said that in the meeting, discrimination in laws in Bangladesh, violence against women, obstacles to the work of NGOs, upcoming elections, the state of democracy, the state of constitutional institutions, the rights of the disabled, the rights of minorities, the rights of indigenous people, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, including the Digital Security Act (DSA). Various issues of human rights violations in Bangladesh were presented to Michelle Bachelet.
Sanjida Islam Tuli, coordinator of the ‘Mayer Dak’ organization present at the meeting, told Samakal, “I have raised issues such as forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the meeting.” I told Michelle Bachelet to ask the government to form a fully independent and impartial investigation team. The investigation team should be conducted within the UN Human Rights Commission’s procedures or mechanisms, so that a result can be obtained from the government. To inform us of the status of those in ‘secret detention’. The government has always denied cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
When asked what Michelle Bachelet said at the meeting, another human rights activist present at the meeting said on condition of anonymity, Bachelet said that she cannot directly pressure Bangladesh to change anything. But the government can influence the development of the situation. He said that he is doing his job as a human rights activist.
He said that although he did not say anything directly about Bangladesh in the meeting, Michelle Bachelet said in the meeting that there are problems in the governance system in 80 countries of the world. Somewhere there is insurgency, some where the legal and institutional structures are not working. He said that he is working on the ongoing human rights issues in the world.
When asked what was said about the upcoming elections and democracy in the meeting, another human rights activist said that all those who were present in the meeting were human rights activists. Everyone spoke at the same place, there is a human rights crisis in the country due to the lack of democracy. The one who works with environment, he is also not able to work properly without influence there due to lack of democratic system. The legal institutions that exist in Bangladesh are not effective according to international charters and standards. Various laws are creating obstacles in the activities of NGOs. Doubts about the upcoming elections were expressed in the meeting as the democratic system is not proper.
Michelle Bachelet held a meeting with human rights activists working in Bangladesh yesterday, August 15, around 11 am. Then he paid tribute at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi No. 32. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights went to Cox’s Bazar yesterday afternoon. Today, August 16, he will visit the Rohingya camp. He will meet with the concerned people besides the Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner.
Michelle Bachelet will have a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tomorrow morning, August 17. In addition to speaking at a seminar at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Michelle Bachelet, the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the former president of Chile, will hold a press conference in the afternoon.
The High Commissioner reached Dhaka on the morning of August 14. He was welcomed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen. Then in the afternoon at Rashtriya Guest House Padma first Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen and later met with Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Haque. After that in the Secretariat Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Education Minister Dr. Michelle Bachelet also met with Dipu Moni.
