Bangladesh praised for Rohingya aid during UNHRC review

The 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday saw representatives of 107 member states taking the floor to praise Bangladesh for the way it has dealt with the Rohingya refugee crisis in terms of supplying aid.

The UNHRC has accepted a draft report from the Bangladesh delegation and said that it will review it and then adopt it on May 17, The Dhaka Tribune has reported.

According to the daily, the Bangladesh delegation was led by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq and comprised of State Minister of Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Senior Secretary of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Mohammad Shahidul Haque, Permanent Represenative to the UN Masud Bin Momen and Ambassador Shameem Ahsan.

Anisul reaffirmed the importance of the cooperation between Bangladesh and various international committees on the rights of women, of migrant workers and the Rohingya refugee crisis, said, "Bangladesh has taken in around a million Rohingya refugees, and is protecting them and preparing them for their return to Myanmar. We are historically dedicated to the fight against genocide and to ensuring justice for victims."

The law minister further noted that there are many hurdles which would need to be overcome to implement all UPR recommendations such as extremism and climate change.

He stressed that the coming years in Bangladesh is extremely crucial in achieving Vision 2021 and Vision 2041 plans by the ruling party which will lead to a society where all people are treated equally with rights and dignity.

Bangladesh was recommended to continue the dialogue with Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis while promoting the rights of the Rohingya people. Almost all the countries reviewing Bangladesh lauded Bangladesh's role in the humanitarian crisis.

Some countries called for Bangladesh to implement International Labour Organisation conventions designed to improve working conditions.

On human trafficking, it was recommended that Bangladesh continue its efforts to combat this practice.

Countries called for Bangladesh to ratify the optional protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on the death penalty, along with establishing a moratorium to abolish the death penalty.

Bangladesh was also recommended to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention. Bangladesh was recommended to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).