UK Minister Catherine West assures support for UN Human Rights inquiry in Bangladesh

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 5, 2024

British Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West has assured the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) of the UK’s support for a United Nations inquiry into alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh.

In a letter addressed to Suhas Chakma, Director of RRAG, on December 4, Minister West reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for human rights, accountability, and the rule of law during her recent visit to Bangladesh on November 16-17.

During discussions with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, West emphasized the need to restore peace and order in Bangladesh, ensure accountability for human rights violations and to promote a peaceful and inclusive democratic future.

She confirmed the UK’s support for the UN’s impartial and independent fact-finding efforts to identify and address human rights abuses.

In a communication dated November 14, RRAG outlined significant human rights issues in Bangladesh, urging Minister West to intervene and advocate for UN action. The RRAG said criminal charges were filed against over 271,587 individuals, primarily targeting political opponents, between August 5 and October 31.

PRAG raised concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation, vendetta politics, increased attacks on indigenous peoples and religious minorities and the need to support the demand of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a country office in Bangladesh.

The RRAG highlighted criminal cases filed against 2,71,587 persons, mainly political opponents, from 5 August to 31 October 2024; acts of violence against at least 74 journalists; increased attacks on indigenous peoples with the killing of at least four indigenous persons, injuries to at least 75 indigenous Jumma people and damages to at least 142 houses, shops and Buddhist temples from 19 September to 1 October in the Chittagong Hill Tracts; over 2,000 acts of violence against Hindu minorities; and absence of independence of the judiciary.

The RRAG had requested Minister Catherine West to urge Bangladesh to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a country mission to extend the mandate of the OHCHR to investigate incidents beyond 20 August 2024 to cover the human rights violations against religious minorities and indigenous peoples; implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord of 1997 in letter and spirit; and make the report of the inquiry commission headed by Additional Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong Mr Mohammad Nurullah Noori into the recent acts of violence upon indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts public.