A preliminary team of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is in Dhaka to discuss the process for investigating human rights violations in light of the recent violence and unrest.
“A team from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will be visiting Dhaka from 22 to 29 August 2024 for preliminary discussions with the Interim Government and other stakeholders,” said an official at the UN on Thursday.
The purpose of this visit is to understand their priorities for assistance in promoting human rights.
It is important to note that this visit is not an investigation, but rather it will focus on discussing the process for investigating human rights violations in light of the recent violence and unrest, said the official.
This is in response to a request from the interim government. Once the details are finalized, a separate fact-finding team will be dispatched in the coming weeks to conduct the investigation.
The High Commissioner has conveyed admiration, solidarity, and support to the people of Bangladesh, particularly the youth, as they work towards advancing human rights for all.
The High Commissioner is fully committed to supporting the interim government and the people of Bangladesh in a successful transition that enhances the protection of human rights.
The team is expected to meet with several government advisers and civil society members during their visit to gather information.
The move was announced by UN human rights Chief Volker Turk during a recent call with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The government has expressed its readiness to cooperate with the UN team to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.
Earlier, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Gwyn Lewis, met with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain to discuss the mission.
She mentioned that the team will include technical experts who will begin the initial fact-finding process.
"The mandate, details, and how the team will collaborate with the government are still to be agreed upon," Lewis told reporters after the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.