Dhaka: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is currently in Dhaka on a four-day visit. This is the first-ever visit by any UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Bangladesh since the establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights back in 1993. Bachelet held meetings with the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, Home Minister, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Education Minister. They discussed various aspects related to human rights in Bangladesh. During the meetings, Bangladesh Ministers highlighted the Government’s efforts to protect and promote the human rights of the people. During his meeting with the UN High Commissioner, Foreign Minister Momen highlighted the Government’s achievements in women empowerment, GDP growth despite the pandemic, political stability, etc.
He also underscored the fact that, in Bangladesh, the media is operating freely, with a large number of television channels and newspapers. Bangladesh Foreign Minister urged the High Commissioner to use her good offices to effectively engage with Myanmar and repatriate the displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar. He also underscored that the protracted stay of the displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh bears the risk of the spread of radicalism, transnational crimes, etc., and thus may hamper regional stability.
