Bangladesh invites UN human rights chief to see situation amid swirling violence

Bangladesh has invited the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein to visit Dhaka and see first-hand the human rights situation amid UN concerns on political violence.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told bdnews24.com he had invited him during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Washington recently.

Al-Hussein was present at the meeting.

“He showed his interest in visiting Bangladesh. I told him to come anytime when I am available in the country,” Ali told bdnews24.com.

Ali and the UN chief’s meeting was held on the sidelines of the White House-sponsored summit on countering violent extremism amid violence back home.

The BNP and its allies are enforcing a countrywide transport blockade and shutdowns to press for interim elections.

More than 100 people have been killed, most of them in firebomb attacks on public vehicles.

A section of the civil society has, of late, been calling for a dialogue, while the government insists that violence must first end.

The government likens the killing of innocent people with firebombs to those by the terrorist group ISIS.

The BNP has taken the battle to the UN. Its Foreign Affairs Committee member Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari regularly participates in UN briefing as a journalist and asks questions on the political situation.

In a recent question he claimed: “In Bangladesh, the… things seem to be getting worse. Former Prime Minister has been charged with arson and… which she says she doesn't do.

“The power's been turned off to the opposition party and basically the authorities are using violence on protestors.”

Bangladesh’s permanent mission to the UN, however, objected to his UN media accreditation despite his ‘active’ political role and affiliations.

Following continued blockade, the UN chief also wrote letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and reportedly called for dialogue between the parties.

Ban during his meeting with the foreign minister encouraged the government to seek “concrete ways” to de-escalate the situation.