The United Nations (UN) has said all political parties and political personalities in Bangladesh should be free to participate in political activities.

“Certainly, regarding political activity, we believe that all political parties and all political personalities should be free to participate,” Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General told reporters in a regular briefing in New York on November 10.

He made the remarks when a journalist wanted to know the UN position, mentioning that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s supporters are trying to destabilise Bangladesh again. 

The Deputy Spokesperson also said obviously, they insist on accountability for the crimes that were committed in Bangladesh, including those that were documented by the UN fact-finding mission. 

A total of 22 vehicles were set on fire across the country in the past 30 hours. Crude bombs were exploded at least 28 locations in Dhaka and six other districts.

In a letter seen by The Associated Press that was emailed to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, Hasina’s counsel urged the top diplomat to take necessary action to provide her with a passport and national identity card.

The letter, sent by London-based law firm Matrix Chambers, asked the mission for the application to be processed “expeditiously” on the basis of Hasina’s Bangladeshi nationality and in accordance with “obligations arising under international human rights instruments.”

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Monday said Bangladesh does not issue passports to “convicted and fled terrorists”.

“Obviously for travel of people, you need a travel document. That is what I understand. But again, this is a technical matter, and I'll come back to you,” Official Spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday.