Law Minister describes Khaleda’s situation

Law Minister Anisul Huq held a virtual press briefing after a review meeting of United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Bangladesh in Geneva.

At the virtual press briefing, the minister claimed that he described the situation of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the meeting.

“I explained them the real and true situation regarding Khaleda Zia ... I also told them that now they (BNP) should go towards truth leaving behind all false,” he said.

Ninety percent out of 111 countries, which took in the meeting, lauded the Bangladesh government's efforts in protecting human rights, Anisul Huq said.

During the review meeting, the law minister said the USA and the UK also praised Bangladesh’s progress in human rights. “No one criticized strongly over human rights situation in Bangladesh,” he added.

However, the law minister said some countries inquired regarding Bangladesh’s situation in holding a free and fair election.

“I reiterated Bangladesh government’s commitment to hold a free, fair and violence free election in the country,” he said.

In his remarks, Huq said that the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy against any human rights violation and highlighted the political space given to the opposition parties.

Huq also talked about the Rohingya crisis, noting that Bangladesh alone cannot resolve the crisis imposed by Myanmar.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam also attended the briefing in person at the foreign ministry in Dhaka while Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva Mohammad Sufiur Rahman joined virtually from Geneva.