The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is due in Dhaka

United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Heiner Bielefeldt is coming to Bangladesh on Aug 31 on an official visit.

According to his office, during his nine-day mission until Sept 9, he will assess the state of freedom of religion or belief in Bangladesh.

He will meet with various government officials, representatives of religious or belief communities, minority and indigenous representatives, civil society organisations and the UN.

Bielefeldt will brief the press on Sept 9 at 3pm at the National Press Club.

Later in 2016 he will present a report with his “conclusions and recommendations” to the UN Human Rights Council on his visit.

The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.

The work, as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, requires him to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present specific recommendations to overcome them.

“I am keen to learn more about the efforts to eliminate root causes of violence, intimidations and vigilantism in the name of religion and developments in promoting and protecting religious freedom, especially initiatives of inter-religious dialogues,” Bielefeldt was quoted as saying in a statement.

He said this would the first visit by someone in his position since his predecessor visited Bangladesh in May 2000.

“It will also be a timely opportunity for me to assess the freedom of religion or belief in relation to issues of gender, women, children, and in particular, religious minorities or indigenous communities,” he noted.