Draft agreement approved to establish UN Human Rights mission in Bangladesh

The Advisory Council has approved the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a mission office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in Bangladesh.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in capital's Tejgaon, chaired by the head of the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

According to a press release from the Cabinet Division, the draft MoU to establish the UNHCHR mission in Bangladesh has been approved. Alongside this, a proposal for Bangladesh to join the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was also approved.

The statement noted that the Optional Protocol, adopted by the UN in 2002, is intended to strengthen global efforts to prevent torture and inhuman treatment. Bangladesh became a signatory to the main convention in 1998 and is now moving toward joining the optional protocol as well.

The government believes these two decisions will significantly contribute to enhancing international cooperation and ensuring greater transparency in the protection of human rights.