Bangladesh raises question about UN’s SRs comments

The Bangladesh government has raised a question about the three UN Special Rapporteurs (SRs) comments on human rights situation, mentioning that the comments were influenced by a desire to malign the government with false and fabricated information.

“Their one-sided observations appear as ill-intentioned particularly in the context of the government's active engagement with them,” said a statement issued by the foreign ministry on Tuesday.

It said the attention of the Bangladesh government of Bangladesh has been drawn to a press release published by the OHCHR on November 14, 2023 on its website entitled “UN Experts urge Bangladesh to seize Human Rights Council review as opportunity to address deteriorating human rights situation”.

The press release compels the government to raise question about the motive and content of the observations made by three UN Special Rapporteurs (SRs) namely Irene Khan, SR on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and Mary Lawlor, SR on the situation of human rights defenders.

Foreign ministry said the timing of the press note containing the remarks of the SRs as well as their possible intentions are intriguing.