To strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights in Bangladesh, the government has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to establish a mission in the country.
According to a press release issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Saturday, the mission aims to provide training and technical assistance to both government institutions and civil society organizations. The goal is to enhance institutional capacity, ensure legal support, and help Bangladesh meet its national and international human rights obligations.
The initiative is described as a reflection of the government’s continued commitment to reform and accountability, especially in the context of serious human rights violations reported during July–August 2024.
The press release acknowledges concerns raised by certain groups regarding the ideological orientation of UN human rights bodies. It emphasizes that Bangladesh is a society rooted in strong cultural and religious traditions, and public feedback has underlined the importance of ensuring that any international partnership respects these values. Therefore, the OHCHR mission will focus on addressing and remedying serious violations—particularly those committed under the previous administration—rather than advancing any social agenda that contradicts the country’s established legal, social, or cultural frameworks.
The government expects the mission to operate with transparency and in close collaboration with local stakeholders. The UN has pledged to work with full respect for Bangladesh’s cultural and religious realities.
The government retains the sovereign authority to withdraw from the MoU if the partnership is deemed inconsistent with national interests.
The press note further states that, had such an office existed under the previous administration-during which extrajudicial killings and public massacres went unchecked-many crimes could have been properly investigated, documented, and brought to justice. The current commitment to human rights must therefore be rooted not in idealism, but in justice. The government views this partnership as an opportunity to strengthen national institutions and enhance citizen protection-guided by the country’s values, framed by its laws, and accountable to its people.