Bangladesh getting elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with the highest votes has proved false the opposition BNP’s propaganda that human rights are being violated in the country, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday. BNP and certain anti-national individuals and organisations are continuously spreading propaganda that human rights are being violated in Bangladesh, said the minister while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. He said that these elements have been trying to create confusion by sending wrong information to different countries. Read: Bangladesh elected UNHRC member because of experience with rights issues: Shahriar Alam But Bangladesh has been elected as a member of the UNHRC, proving the propaganda false, he added. “Rather, it has proved that Sheikh Hasina's government is on the right track.” Bangladesh has bagged a 'historic win' in the election for the membership of the UNHRC for the term 2023-25, securing 160 votes out of 189 that were cast in Tuesday’s election. This would be the fifth term for Bangladesh as a member of the 47-member UNHRC. It secured one of the four seats up for grabs for countries from the Asia Pacific Group, receiving the highest votes out of all the candidates in the region. In fact the human rights were violated extremely in the country during the regime of military ruler Ziaur Rahman, the minister said, adding that thousands of army officers and soldiers were killed without trial during his time. Even executions were carried out before the trials and these are documented, he added. Thousands of Bangladesh Awami League leaders and activists were tortured and killed during Zia's tenure, Hasan claimed. Following Zia’s footstep, the government of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was involved in the August 21 grenade attacks, killings of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master and journalist Humyun Kabir Balu and many others. Read: Pay attention to Palestine, Myanmar, Hasan to UNHRC Unfortunately, no trials were held in these cases, he added. “We will present before the world how the BNP had violated human rights by killing people alive through arson attacks in 2013, 2014 and 2015,” he said. The minister also said the families of the victims, who were killed by Ziaur Rahman, formed an organisation named 'Mayer Kanna' and are holding human chains at different parts of the country, including Dhaka, and Chattogram, demanding justice. “I want to know how BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will respond to this now,” he said. Regarding the ongoing protests of BNP, Hasan said if it tries to create anarchy in the name of divisional rallies, the government will take appropriate measures for the security of the people. “And if the people resist, our party will also stand by them. Besides, by-elections will be held there if any lawmaker of BNP resigns,” he said.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) should pay attention to Palestine and Myanmar. He said it would have been better if the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet during her recent visit to Bangladesh heard from the victim families of the arson violence unleashed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the country. Dr Hasan, also a joint general secretary of Awami League, was addressing a discussion organised by Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) Alumni Association on the occasion of the National Mourning Day at Krishibid Institute Auditorium here. Also read: Election period in Bangladesh to be important time to maximise civic, political space: Bachelet He said when children in Palestine threw stones at Israeli soldiers, they (Palestinians) are killed by firing a hail of bullets in response. Pointing at Michelle Bachelet, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said it is not enough to appreciate Bangladesh visiting the Rohingya camp only. But she will also have to visit Myanmar and ensure their repatriation, he said. “The United Nations Human Rights Council should pay attention to these countries where human rights are grossly violated,” he added. Criticising the BNP, Dr Hasan said Zia and his party (BNP) are the biggest violators of human rights in Bangladesh. Ziaur Rahman turned the Indemnity Ordinance into law to prevent the trial of Bangabandhu murder and he also rehabilitated the killers. And in 2013, 2014 and 2015, hundreds of innocent people were burnt to death through petrol bombs in the name of strike-blockade by BNP and their ally Jamaat, he said. Also read: Bachelet didn’t express any concern over Bangladesh situation: Law Minister About the remarks of Michelle Bachelet over the Digital Security Act, Hasan said that this law was enacted to ensure digital security for every citizen of the country. “Those who raise questions about our law, I will tell them to look at the laws in Australia and Singapore where there are stricter provisions in the laws than ours,” he said adding that India and Pakistan also have similar provisions in their laws. A framework law was enacted in the European Union to provide digital security and the EU member countries have made their laws in light of the Framework law. But, no remark about these is seen, he added. "Yes, we are careful to ensure that this law is not misused, and we are working to ensure that no one is oppressed," said the Minister. Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, SAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan the SAU alumni association secretary general and also Youth and Sports Secretary Mesbah Uddin also spoke at the discussion presided over by the association president Prof Dr Kamal Uddin Ahamed.

United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Friday called on states to take bold actions to give prompt and real effect to the right to a healthy environment, following a UN Human Rights Council's landmark decision. The Human Rights Council recognised for the first time that having a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is indeed a human right, in its resolution 48/13. The Council called on states to work together, and with other partners, to implement this newly recognised right. At the same time, through a second resolution (48/14), the Council also increased its focus on the human rights impacts of climate change by establishing a Special Rapporteur dedicated specifically to the issue. "The Human Rights Council's decisive action in recognising the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is about protecting people and the planet – the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. It is also about protecting the natural systems which are basic preconditions to the lives and livelihoods of all people, wherever they live," the High Commissioner said. Read: Mohib's killing, Rohingya repatriation: Bachelet for redoubling global pressure on Myanmar "Having long called for such a step, I am gratified that the Council's action today recognises environmental degradation and climate change as interconnected human rights crises." "Bold action is now required to ensure this resolution on the right to a healthy environment serves as a springboard to push for transformative economic, social and environmental policies that will protect people and nature," she added. At the beginning of the current session of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner described the triple planetary threats of climate change, pollution and nature loss as the single greatest human rights challenge of our era. The resolution on a healthy environment acknowledges the damage inflicted by climate change and environmental destruction on millions of people across the world. It also underlines that the most vulnerable segments of the population are more acutely impacted. The issue will now pass on to the UN General Assembly for further consideration. Bachelet paid tribute to the efforts of a diverse array of civil society organisations, including youth groups, national human rights institutions, indigenous peoples' organisations, businesses and many others worldwide who have been advocating for full international recognition of this right. Read: Action must be taken now over Rohingyas' rights violations: Bachelet She stressed the importance that the rights to participation, access to information and access to justice are also respected for the human right to a healthy environment to be fully realised. Noting that an unprecedented number of environmental human rights defenders were reported killed last year, the High Commissioner urged states to take firm measures to protect and empower them. "We must build on this momentum to move beyond the false separation of environmental action and protection of human rights. It is all too clear that neither goal can be achieved without the other, and to that end, a balanced, human rights-based approach to sustainable development must be ensured," she said.

Recognising the threats to pluralistic societies arising from terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have pledged to work together to counteract such challenges in both the countries, the region and beyond. 

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners have completed 130 projects so far to support the Cox’s Bazar locals through “Community Solidarity Projects” and income generation initiatives.