United News of Bangladesh

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has said the initiation of proceedings against those accused of carrying out enforced disappearances and torture under the previous government in Bangladesh was an important step towards accountability. “I urge full respect for the most scrupulous standards of due process and fair trial, as guaranteed in international law. The protection of victims and witnesses in these sensitive and significant cases must be ensured,” the High Commissioner said. Last week, the country’s International Crimes Tribunal submitted formal charges of crimes against humanity in two cases related to enforced disappearances and torture alleged to have occurred at the Task Force for Interrogation Cell and the Joint Interrogation Cell, respectively.  The Tribunal also issued arrest warrants for mostly former, but also some serving, military officers, including a number of former Directors-General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, as well as former officials of the Rapid Action Battalion. “This marks the first time that formal charges have been brought for enforced disappearances in the country. It is a significant moment for victims and their families,” High Commissioner Türk said. Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to NAM principles On Saturday, Bangladesh’s army announced that it had detained over a dozen of its officers accused of serious crimes committed under the previous administration.  It is crucial that the army promptly produces these detained officers to a competent civilian court, for fair and transparent criminal proceedings, said the UN rights body chief in a statement issued from Geneva on October 15. One of the key recommendations of the UN Human Rights Office’s Fact-Finding Report into last year’s deadly student-led protests was that those responsible for serious violations of human rights, some of which may also constitute international crimes, must be held to account in accordance with international standards. The crime of enforced disappearances is now formally recognised in Bangladesh for the first time following ratification in August 2024 of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances and an amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal Act. SAARC can unlock immense potential for trade and investment: GED Member The High Commissioner also urged the authorities to prioritise the handling of the large number of other pending cases – with some dating back to the previous administration and others since then.  It is crucial to ensure due process and fair resolution in each case, and to release promptly anyone who has been arbitrarily detained, said the UN human rights body. This includes survivors of enforced disappearances and others facing unfounded charges, including journalists and those perceived to be supporters of the former regime.  Many of them continue to face criminal charges, including under the draconian Anti-Terrorism Act. The High Commissioner has also urged the authorities not to pursue the death penalty in any of the cases before its courts, irrespective of the seriousness of the charges. “Beyond ensuring individual accountability, the best way forward for Bangladesh is a comprehensive process of truth-telling, reparation, healing and justice," he said. "Such a process must address the legacy of serious human rights violations and ensure that these abuses can never happen again. I also call on the interim Government to deal with ongoing concerns promptly in line with international law,” Türk said.   

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday stressed the need to ensure the protection of environmental human rights defenders and bring their safety under a legal framework. “Environmental defenders around the world are facing killings and violence, an issue that the United Nations has highlighted as highly significant and Bangladesh law should also reflect this concern,” she at the National Consultation on the Draft National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025at a hotel in Dhaka. .Rizwana  said while proposed National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025 is a well-drafted and comprehensive piece of legislation  encompassing investigation, recommendation, compensation, training, arbitration, and mediation its success will depend on how effectively the Commission is empowered and capacitated.  “Just putting people in the chair will not be enough,” she cautioned. “We must orient them with the soft values of human rights, alongside the institutional and legal mechanisms necessary for enforcement,” she said. Rizwana calls for stronger international support on climate action, energy transition Referring to the judiciary’s role in addressing rights violations, she emphasised the need for stronger coordination between the judiciary and the human rights bodies. Despite important directions from the courts, a sense of helplessness sometimes persists in ensuring enforcement, she added. The Environment Adviser said the commission’s recommendations should carry both moral and legal weight. “Moral force is vital in a country like Bangladesh, but there must also be enforceable mechanisms, particularly for arbitration and mediation outcomes.” Highlighting areas for improvement in the draft, Rizwana suggested expanding the definition of “person” to explicitly include government agencies and law enforcement bodies, which she said is critical for ensuring accountability. She also proposed the establishment of a panel of lawyers within the Commission to strengthen its investigative and advisory capacity, as well as regular evaluation of its performance. She further noted that the new Human Rights Commission law should complement other proposed commissions  such as those on police reform, women’s rights, enforced disappearances, and media freedom to create a coherent and reinforcing legal ecosystem for human rights protection. Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser, Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Md. Asaduzzaman, Attorney General for Bangladesh; Reto Siegfried Renggli, Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland to Bangladesh; Anders B. Karlsen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark to Bangladesh; Stefan Liller, UNDP Bangladesh, among others, spoke at the event. The consultation was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Law, representatives from the United Nations, development partners, human rights organizations, and members of civil society.

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Saturday said a truly independent and accountable Human Rights Commission can only thrive when it is free from political influence and rooted in citizen participation. He made the remarks while speaking at a meeting in Cox’s Bazar as the government of Bangladesh unveiled the draft National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Ordinance 2025, marking a significant step forward in the country’s commitment to human rights protection and alignment with international standards. The new draft ordinance, designed to replace the NHRC Act 2009, seeks to enhance the Commission’s independence, inclusivity, and accountability. It seeks to align the NHRC’s mandate with relevant parts of the Paris Principles and addresses key recommendations from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), said UNDP. The event, titled ‘Stakeholder Consultation on the Reform of the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009’, was organised by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) Programme, with support from the Embassy of Switzerland. Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said a truly independent and inclusive Human Rights Commission is essential if Bangladesh is to meet international standards and restore public trust. Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Stefan Liller said within the broader UN family, governance and the promotion of human rights are core areas of expertise for UNDP.  "We remain committed to supporting the people of Bangladesh in shaping a stronger and more effective National Human Rights Commission," he said. Reform of state’s three organs essential to uphold human rights: Asif Nazrul Liller said they are honoured to be among the partners of choice in advancing these reforms at a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history. Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli said amending the National Human Rights Commission Act is crucial to ensuring the Commission’s independence, efficiency and credibility. "A stronger institution will not only better protect citizens’ rights but also build trust, strengthen accountability and reinforce Bangladesh’s democratic principles," he said. Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks highlighted Sweden’s continued support and said strong and independent human rights institutions are the backbone of democratic societies. "Sweden stands with Bangladesh in this reform process, which is vital for safeguarding human rights, strengthening the rule of law, and advancing inclusive development," said the Swedish envoy. Earlier, Barrister Tanim Hussain Shawon, Special Consultant, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, presented the keynote on ‘Overview of the Proposed NHRC Ordinance 2025’. Iftikhar Syed Ali, Human Rights Officer, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Cox’s Bazar, shared the UN’s position paper on the current law submitted in early September. Among others, Romana Schweiger, Senior Rule of Law, Justice and Security Advisor, UNDP Bangladesh, and Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, spoke at the event. The Cox’s Bazar consultation follows earlier rounds in Sylhet and Khulna, with further divisional consultations planned nationwide ahead of a divisional consultation in the north and the National Dialogue in Dhaka. The recommendations gathered will inform the final amendments to the NHRC Act 2009. Members of the public are invited to share their opinions or comments on the draft National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Ordinance 2025 by 18 September at [email protected]

A delegation of five Human Rights subcommittee Members will visit Bangladesh from September 16 to 18 to discuss the human rights dimension of the relations between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU). Against the backdrop of the upcoming elections in February 2026 and of the strengthening of EU-Bangladesh relations, the European Parliament delegation is visiting the country to "learn more about the work" of the interim government in promoting good governance and advancing human rights, including international labour standards, and to discuss the EU-Bangladesh partnership in these areas. The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights Mounir Satouri will lead the delegation. Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Urmas Paet and Catarina Vieira are the members of the delegation. Only peace, dialogue can bring stability to a nation: Cardinal Koovakad They will hold meetings with representatives of the interim government, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, labour representatives and representatives of multilateral organisations operating on the ground. Since the violent crackdown on the mass protest movement of 2024 and the subsequent downfall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is undergoing a period of political transition under an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, said the EU Embassy in Dhaka. The interim authorities launched a reform process in autumn 2024, including the country’s electoral system, judiciary and other key institutions. Bangladesh and the EU have furthermore resumed negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Bangladesh is currently under an Everything but Arms (EBA) enhanced engagement  process with the EU, which includes a systematic approach to addressing concerns with regard to fundamental human rights as well as labour rights. Bangladesh hosts over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees who fled to escape persecution following the Myanmar military crackdown against the minority in 2017. The situation in the refugee camps in Bangladesh is dire, with overcrowding, limited resources, and ongoing humanitarian challenges. The delegation will meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Consensus Commission Vice Chair Prof Ali Riaz, representatives of the Bangladesh

Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Saturday said upholding human rights in Bangladesh is not possible without addressing the longstanding issues within the three key organs of the state -- the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. “We must fix the state’s three main pillars. Without doing so, there is no way to ensure human rights. We have to touch the core issues. That’s where we are trying to bring change,” he said while speaking at the 11th Human Rights Conference held at Dhaka University’s Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium. Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) organised the conference. Referring to the country’s democratic journey, Dr Nazrul said Bangladesh witnessed relatively fair elections and peaceful transfers of power from 1991 to 2012–13, which allowed for a certain degree of democratic progress. “Even in 2013, during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, opposition candidates won several mayoral elections …there was still some transparency,” he said. Govt transparent over aircraft crash, spreading rumors serious offense: Law Adviser Emphasising a measured approach to reform, he said, “Transformation won’t come overnight. But we must steadily move forward through better elections, administrative and legal reforms, and by building a culture of human rights.” Presided over by HRSS Chairperson Shahzada Al Amin, the conference was addressed, among others, by human rights activist and HRSS Chief Adviser Md Nur Khan; Senior Human Rights Adviser at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh Huma Khan, and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Dhaka University Prof Mohammad Ekramul Haque.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 40 people on Thursday across central and southern Gaza, including an attack on a sprawling tent camp that Israel has repeatedly bombed despite designating it a humanitarian safe zone. Israel said the strike targeted a righ-ranking police officer, and blames Hamas for civilian deaths. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday he authorized a delegation from the country's intelligence services and military to continue negotiations in Qatar toward a ceasefire deal in Gaza. There was no immediate comment from Hamas. American, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have spent nearly a year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release, but their efforts have repeatedly stalled. The Israeli military also claimed responsibility Thursday for a commando raid in western Syria last September that destroyed what it said was an Iranian-led missile factory. Israel’s war in Gaza has killed over 45,500 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who say women and children make up more than half the fatalities. The officials do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally. The war was sparked by Hamas-led militants' Oct. 7, 2023 attack into Israel. They killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 that day. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. The Israeli military says a missile fired from Yemen has set off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and central Israel. The attack, at 4:30 a.m. Friday, woke millions of people and sent people scrambling to air raid shelters. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, though a faint explosion, likely either from the missile or from interceptors, could be heard in Jerusalem. The military said interceptors were launched toward the target and the results are under review. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been launching missiles and drones at Israel nearly every day in recent weeks. Israel has carried out a number of long-range airstrikes in Yemen, some 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away. But the strikes have failed to stop the attacks. The Houthis have pledged to continue striking Israel until the war in Gaza ends. Israeli strikes in the Maghazi and Nuseirat refugee camps in central Gaza killed at least 14 people late Thursday, including four women and five children. They were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where an Associated Press journalist counted the bodies, bringing the death toll on Thursday to at least 40 people. The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the strikes, but says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths. Earlier Israeli strikes killed dozens more people throughout central and southern Gaza, including inside a sprawling tent camp that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. Israel's military said that strike killed a high-ranking police officer who was involved in gathering intelligence used by Hamas’ armed wing in attacks on Israeli forces. The head of the U.N. World Health Organization says Israel is still allowing only a trickle of sick and wounded people in the Gaza Strip to travel abroad for life-saving medical treatment. At least 5,383 patients have been evacuated with the WHO's help since the war broke out in October 2023, leaving more than 12,000 Palestinians still waiting to leave Gaza, said WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement Thursday. The rate of evacuations plunged when the Rafah border crossing shut down in May after Israeli troops took it over — since then, only 436 patients have left Gaza, Tedros said. “At this rate, it would take 5-10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients, including thousands of children,” Tedros said. “In the meantime, their conditions get worse and some die.” He urged Israel to increase the approval rate for medical evacuations, including no denials of child patients, and to allow all possible corridors and border crossings to be used. Israel controls all the entry and exit points for Gaza. COGAT, the Israeli military agency in charge of humanitarian affairs for Palestinians, has said it does everything it can to approve medical evacuations, which are contingent upon a security check. It did not respond when asked for comment on the latest WHO figures. Israel's military said Thursday it struck rocket launchers used by Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, a rare attack outside the border areas where Israeli forces conduct near-daily operations since a ceasefire went into effect last November, according to Lebanese state media. Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel has until Jan. 25 to withdraw its forces from Lebanon, while Hezbollah militants must relocate north of the Litani River. Read: Last functional hospital in Gaza torched Israel says it has the right to attack Hezbollah anywhere for alleged ceasefire violations, and that Thursday's strikes were in Nabatiyeh province, which straddles both sides of the Litani. Video circulated on social media of a strike in Jbaa, in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region, showing large flames and secondary explosions. No casualties were reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the attack. Israeli operations in Lebanon since the ceasefire have included gunfire, house demolitions, excavations, tank shelling and airstrikes. These actions have killed at least 27 people, wounded more than 30 and destroyed residential buildings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says he has authorized a delegation from the Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security agency and the military to continue negotiations in Qatar toward a ceasefire deal in Gaza. The statement had no further details, but Israeli media said the delegation would depart Friday. There was no immediate comment from the Hamas militant group. The U.S.-led talks have repeatedly stalled, and at one point last year Qatar suspended its mediation efforts, expressing frustration. Egypt also is a mediator. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 26 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Thursday as the 15-month war with Hamas dragged on. A strike killed five policemen in the southern city of Khan Younis and their bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital, medical officials there said. Three Palestinians were killed in a separate Israeli strike in central Gaza that hit a group of people walking in the street in the built-up Maghazi refugee camp, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. An earlier strike in nearby Deir al-Balah killed eight people who were helping secure humanitarian aid convoys, the hospital said. At least 10 people were also killed Thursday morning by an airstrike in southern Gaza's Muwasi area, inside an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone. The dead included three children and two senior police officers. Israel said that strike targeted a senior member of Hamas’ internal security apparatus. Israel has repeatedly targeted Gaza's police force, which was part of the Hamas-run government, contributing to a breakdown of law and order that has made it difficult for humanitarian groups to deliver aid. Israel accuses Hamas of hijacking aid for its own purposes. The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for a nighttime raid in Syria last September in which it says dozens of commandos destroyed a top-secret Iranian-led missile factory. Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Thursday that Iran, working with its Syrian and the Hezbollah allies, planned to build hundreds of precision guided missiles per year at the factory that could be transferred to Lebanon. He said the facility was located in western Syria around the town of Masyaf near the Lebanese border. Read more: A new year dawns on a Middle East torn by conflict and change He said Israel had been monitoring the underground facility for several years, but decided to strike at a time when Israel was at war with Hezbollah and the factory was becoming operational. “This facility posed a clear threat to the state of Israel and this is why we had to take action,” he said. Shoshani said over 100 special force soldiers took part in the Sept. 8 raid, backed by dozens of aircraft. Calling it one of Israel’s most complex operations in years, he said soldiers arrived by helicopter and entered the facility, which he said was dug deep into the side of a mountain. In bodycam footage released by the Israeli military, special forces are seen moving through wide underground hallways and seizing documents, before a large explosion destroys the site. The video, which could not be independently verified, also showed images of what the army said was missile-manufacturing equipment. At the time, Syrian state media reported 18 deaths from a series of Israeli airstrikes in the area. Shoshani said there were no Israeli casualties, and that Israel also damaged another missile-production facility in Lebanon during the war. Israel and Hezbollah reached a cease-fire in late November, halting nearly 14 months of fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital Thursday after recovering from prostate surgery Sunday. Doctors at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital said Netanyahu was recuperating satisfactorily, although he still has a period of recovery ahead. Medical follow-ups will continue as usual, according to a hospital statement. Despite doctor’s orders to remain hospitalized, the 75-year-old leader had briefly left the facility to participate in a vote in Israel’s parliament on Tuesday. Ukraine’s president says his country is poised to reestablish diplomatic ties with Syria after the fall of President Bashar Assad and sharply increase agricultural exports to Lebanon despite being engaged in an almost three-year war with Russia. The developments came after a recent visit to those countries by Ukraine’s top diplomat and its government minister for farming, according to a statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday. Ukraine is aiming to build up its security and trade relations in the Middle East, he said. Ukraine and Syria are assessing cooperation within international organizations, and Syria could this year become a “reliable partner” for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian officials met with Syria’s new de facto authorities led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The insurgents had ousted Assad, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in early December. Ukrainian agricultural exports to Lebanon are around $400 million a year but Zelenskyy said he hopes to at least double that. Ukraine is a leading world producer of wheat, corn, barley, sunflower oil and other food products. The Israeli military says it targeted a senior member of Hamas’ internal security apparatus in a strike in the Gaza Strip that Palestinian officials say killed nine other people, including three children. The strike early Thursday hit a tent in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone known as Muwasi, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering in tents during the cold and rainy winter. The military said Hossam Shahwan, a senior officer in the Hamas-run police force in Gaza, was involved in gathering intelligence used by Hamas’ armed wing in attacks on Israeli forces. Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Salah, another senior police official, was also killed in the strike. The military says Hamas militants hide among civilians and blames the group for their deaths in the nearly 15-month war, which was ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack into Israel. The Hamas-run government had a police force numbering in the tens of thousands that maintained a high degree of public security before the war while also violently suppressing dissent. The police have largely vanished from the streets in many areas after being targeted by Israel, contributing to the breakdown of law and order that has hindered the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid. Read  more: Women and children among 12 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza The forces together with armed vehicles were deployed in the city of Homs Thursday to look for the militants affiliated with ousted President Bashar Assad, state media reported. SANA, citing a military official, said that the new de facto authorities led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham had set up centers in Syria’s third-largest city for former soldiers and militants to hand over their weapons, similar to other parts of Syria. In early December, a lightning insurgency took out the decades-long rule of Assad in less than two weeks. HTS has since run much of war-torn Syria under the authority of its leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. Officials who were part of Assad's notorious web of intelligence and security apparatus have been arrested over the past few weeks. An Israeli strike has killed at least eight Palestinian men in the central Gaza Strip. The dead were members of local committees that help secure aid convoys, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. An Associated Press reporter at the hospital confirmed the toll. Earlier on Thursday, an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza killed at least 10 people, including three children and two senior officers in the Hamas-run police. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the strikes. Israel has repeatedly targeted the police, contributing to a breakdown of law and order in the territory that has made it difficult for humanitarian groups to deliver aid. Israel accuses Hamas of hijacking aid for its own purposes. Al Jazeera has condemned the Palestinian Authority’s decision to bar it from operating in the occupied West Bank, saying the decision was “in line” with similar actions taken by Israel. In a statement Thursday, the Qatar-based broadcaster accused the Western-backed authority of seeking to “hide the truth about events in the occupied territories, especially what is happening in Jenin and its camps.” The Palestinian Authority, which cooperates with Israel on security matters, launched a rare crackdown on anti-Israel militants in the urban Jenin refugee camp last month. The authority has international support but is unpopular among many Palestinians, with critics portraying it as a subcontractor of the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian Authority announced the suspension of Al Jazeera’s activities on Wednesday, accusing it of incitement and interfering in Palestinian internal affairs. The Palestinian Authority exercises limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel banned Al Jazeera last year, accusing it of being a mouthpiece of Hamas. Israeli strikes have killed or wounded several Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza, and Israel has accused some of them of being militants. Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s West Bank headquarters last year, but the broadcaster has continued to operate in the territory. Al Jazeera denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its coverage. Its 24-hour reporting from Gaza has focused on the deaths of Palestinian civilians. It has also broadcast Hamas and other militant videos in their entirety, showing attacks on Israeli forces and hostages speaking under duress.

An Israeli airstrike on Saturday struck a car in Gaza, killing five individuals, including employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK). The charity expressed heartbreak and uncertainty, stating it had no prior knowledge of any connection between the workers and the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war. Israel's military claimed one of the victims, identified as Ahed Azmi Qdeih, was involved in the assault on Nir Oz kibbutz and had ties to Hamas. Qdeih’s family denied the allegations, asserting that he had worked for WCK. The strike is the latest in a series of attacks on aid workers in Gaza. WCK had previously suspended operations following an Israeli airstrike in April that killed seven of its staff. The organization also paused its work earlier this year after another strike killed a Palestinian worker. This incident occurred as another Israeli airstrike hit a car near a food distribution site in Khan Younis, killing 13 people, including children. Save the Children reported that a local employee was also killed in the same region, while other airstrikes in Gaza and southern Lebanon continued to escalate the humanitarian crisis. Read: Israel says it struck Hezbollah weapons smuggling sites in Syria, testing a fragile ceasefire Additionally, Hamas released a new hostage video on Saturday, showing Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander pleading under duress. The video highlights the ongoing suffering of hostages in Gaza and the international pressures on Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon appears to be holding, although sporadic violence continues in both Gaza and Lebanon, underscoring the broader instability in the region. Source: With inputs from agencies

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Sunday asked the national human rights commission to incorporate the influential personalities and opinion leaders in the process of establishing human rights. This effort of incorporating the influential personalities and opinion leaders like Imam, religious leaders, teachers and leeaders of different professionals will increase the human rights situation in Bangladesh in the large scale,  he said. The president made the statement while delivering his speech at the programme  of observing the International Human Rights Day at the Hotel Intercontinental in the capital. President Shahabuddin calls for vigilant anti-corruption efforts to foster development The programme hosted by National Human Rights Commission( NHRC) was held with the theme of 'freedom, equity and justice for all'. Pointing out that the scope  of work of NHRC is wide across the country, the President said that since its inception, the commission has been making efforts to preserve, develop and ensure human rights. One of the main steps in creating and establishing a human rights culture is to create awareness about human rights issues. "Increase in human rights awareness will pave the way for victims of human rights violations to seek redress," he said. He also directed the commission to elevate the people's involvement in all activities of mutual dialogue, meetings, seminars, workshops, education and promotion of co-operation in the protection of human rights. In order to develop  the human rights culture in Bangladesh, he said the commission should take necessary initiatives to increase research and publication, increase round-the-clock monitoring of human rights violations, create awareness on human rights issues and conduct advocacy activities. Envoys of Pakistan, Egypt, Vatican city and Sri Lanka present credentials to President Shahabuddin Urging to ensure the presence of the National Human Rights Commission wherever human rights violations occur in the country, the president said the commission  should stand by the oppressed and continue all efforts to punish the oppressors and become a symbol of trust and confidence to the exploited and oppressed. The president specifically requested the international community to ensure a permanent solution to all kinds of conflicts and stand by the persecuted and oppressed people, noting that all problems can be solved through dialogue, not war. "But sadly, it is true that the prevailing global human rights situation would distress any sane person. Thousands of people are dying every day in various ways, including wars, ethnic and sectarian riots, epidemics and natural disasters, thousands are being killed in Gaza, millions of peoples’  human rights are being violated,” he said. Criticising the silence of the world in this issue, he said many powerful countries are playing the role of silent spectators. Many countries and organisations are indulging in double standards in the name of human rights, he said. President seeks more Dutch investment in Bangladesh Pointing out that the issue of human rights should be considered universal and equal for all and no discrimination or partiality should be done, the president said, "I hope that wherever human rights are violated in the world, all countries, human rights organisations and human rights activists will raise their voices in protest regardless of party, religion and caste." . Law, Justice and Parliamentary  Affairs Minister  Anisul Haque and full-time member of National Human Rights Commission Salim Reza spoke in the programme while secretary of Law and Justice Department Golam Sarwar and Secretary of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department Mr. Md. Moinul Kabir were also present. Chairman of the NHRC Kamal Uddin Ahmed presided over the programme.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said the situation in Gaza is not only a classic example of ethnic cleansing but also genocide by a state power assisted by leaders of “the free world and proponents of human rights, humanitarian laws and all moral and ethical values.” “Israel-Gaza war is not a war at all. It is, in fact, barbaric and collective punishment and killing of a captive group of innocent men and women and especially children who cannot be combatants,” he said while speaking at the 8th Extraordinary Islamic Summit in Riyadh on Saturday (November 11, 2023). The Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit was held in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. Read more: Israel must stop killing babies and women in Gaza: Macron tells BBC Momen said it is destroying cities and towns, hopes and aspirations of a nation, and calculated deprivation of an occupied people of their rights – to food, shelter, water, essential medicines, fuel and electricity, and of course, a decent life.

The government has taken preparations to highlight its efforts as Bangladesh's human rights record will be examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the fourth time on November 13. The review meeting, to be held in Geneva, will be webcast live. Bangladesh is one of 14 states to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its ongoing session from November 6 to 17, 2023.  Also read: UN rights body not 'correctly' informed on recent violence in Dhaka: Momen Bangladesh’s first, second and third UPR reviews took place in February 2009, April 2013, and May 2018, respectively, said an official. Usually, Law Minister Anisul Huq and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, along with senior officials, join the review.  The law minister is likely to lead the Bangladesh delegation this time around as well. The UPR Working Group comprises the 47 member states of the Human Rights Council.  Also read: UN rights body studying text of Cyber Security Bill closely However, each of the 193 UN member states can participate in a country review. The documents on which the reviews are based are:  1) National report — information provided by the state under review. 2) Information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities. 3) Information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations, and civil society groups. The UPR is a peer review of the human rights records of all 193 UN member states.  Since its first meeting in April 2008, all 193 UN member states have been reviewed thrice.  During the fourth UPR cycle, states are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous reviews which they committed to follow up on and highlight recent human rights developments in the country. Universal Periodic Review The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that calls for each UN member state to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every 4.5 years.  The UPR provides each state the opportunity to regularly:  1) Report on the actions it has taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights.  2) Receive recommendations – informed by multi-stakeholder input and pre-session reports – from UN member states for continuous improvement. Established in March 2006 by the UN General Assembly in resolution 60/251, the UPR is designed to prompt, support, and expand the promotion and protection of human rights in every country. Also read: UN rights body urges 'peaceful, inclusive, safe environment' ahead of election As a constitutional democracy, Bangladesh continues to remain "fully committed" to protecting human rights for all.  Under the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been adopting progressive policies to realize a better society for all where fundamental human rights, the rule of law, equality, and justice prevails, officials said. Bangladesh considers all human rights to be universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing.  Since the 3rd cycle of Universal Periodic Review, the government of Bangladesh continued to adopt legislative and policy reforms, "enhance" democratic institutions and accountability mechanisms to realize the aspiration of “a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality, and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens” as pledged by the constitution.