“You can count on having a credible, willing and engaged partner, working at enhanced compliance with its Human Rights Treaty obligations,” said Law Minister Anisul Huq.
He conveyed it to the members of the Committee at the concluding session of the two-day long review of Bangladesh’s ‘initial report’ on the UNCAT held at the UN Office in Geneva on Wednesday.
The law minister led a 19-member Bangladesh delegation which included State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and senior officials from different ministries, departments and agencies of the government.
Anisul Huq reiterated Bangladesh’s solemn pledge as a homage to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Bangladesh prepares to celebrate his birth centenary next year. “It has at times been a struggle for our state to adhere to its convictions in the face of fabricated narratives propagated by certain influential quarters at the international level,” he said.
The minister also said, “Our unrelenting pursuit of sustainable development, our abiding commitment to democracy and the rule of law, our uncompromising stand against terrorism, organized crimes and corruption, and our faith in investing in our future generation has helped us stay on track and defy all naysayers time and again.”
The Vice-Chair for Bangladesh review at the Committee against Torture F Gaer appreciated Bangladesh’s extensive accounting of cases and statistics as presented by the minister in his speech, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Committee recalled the horrific violence and abuse during the 1971 War of Liberation.
“Despite the commission of genocide and other atrocities of huge proportions, we have seen Bangladesh emerge as a country committed to protect its people from torture,” Gaer said.
Prior to his closing remarks, the law minister responded to the queries raised by the members of the Committee against Torture.
He clarified the Committee about Bangladesh’s position on various issues under UNCAT, including legal aspects of torture, pre-trial and preventive detention, condition in prison and its reform, safeguards in interrogation procedure, independence of judiciary, death penalty, protection of religious and ethnic minorities, violence against women and children and protection mechanisms.
The Chair of the Committee thanked the government of Bangladesh for its participation as well as for providing open and candid responses to their queries.
He hoped that Bangladesh would remain committed in ensuring full implementation of the provisions of the Convention.
Anisul Huq also thanked the Committee for its constructive engagement with the government of Bangladesh since the inception of this review process.
He proudly shared the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for building a resilient, inclusive, just and prosperous Bangladesh.
The law minister reaffirmed the government’s unswerving commitment to promoting and protecting the human rights for all, including fulfilling the relevant international obligations.
In his concluding remarks, he said they have embarked on commensurate actions which can be further built on as they remain mindful of the continued relevance of certain legal tools and administrative mechanisms in socio-political context.
In her vision for a resilient, inclusive and prosperous Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has never shied away from embracing the international obligations that correspond to the legitimate demands and aspirations of our people, Anisul Huq added.