Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has stressed the need for finding a solution to the prevailing situation in Bangladesh.
He also advised for exchanging information and maintaining contacts between his office and the Bangladesh Permanent Mission on the situation on a regular basis.
The UN rights chief made the remarks when Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, now in Geneva, met him at his office in Geneva, a Foreign Ministry press release said in Dhaka on Thursday.
While briefing the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights about the current spate of violent and terrorist acts committed by BNP-Jamaat activists, the Foreign Minister said some of the recent cowardly acts of BNP-Jamaat are almost akin to terror tactics used by ISIS and other extreme forces.
He affirmed that Bangladesh has always been supportive of the work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OHCHR to uphold human rights globally.
During the briefing, Bangladesh’s political situation came up for discussions.
The foreign minister reiterated the government’s firm commitment to contain the violence and ensure protection of people in general.
He also invited the High Commissioner to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time, which he readily accepted.
The minister handed over a cheque of US $ 1 million as Bangladesh’s contribution to the IOM Emergency Fund at a simple ceremony.
He commended the role of IOM in promoting migration around the world.
Mahmood Ali also thanked IOM for helping migrants in crisis situation, particularly for the support rendered to Bangladesh during the urgent repatriation of 17,410 Bangladeshis from Egypt and Tunisia.
Thanking the foreign minister, the director general said the contribution symbolised the growing partnership between IOM and Bangladesh.
He applauded the active and substantive role Bangladesh was playing in advancing role and rights of migrants ininternational forums.
The contribution is also an example of burden sharing by a developing country, he added.
Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali is in Geneva on a four-day visit beginning from March 3 to attend the high level segment of the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
BBN/AS/AD-05Mar15-6:40pm (BST)
