Bangladesh to share plans on socioeconomic, cultural rights in Geneva

Bangladesh will present its present status and share future plans on economic, social and cultural rights at the review meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday and Friday. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, who is already in Geneva, will lead a 12-member Bangladesh delegation at the review meeting. "Bangladesh is attending the first review of the national report under international covenant on of economic, social and cultural rights," he told UNB. He said some 18 experts will take part in the discussion and questions-answers session which will last for nine hours over two days. "It is a big step towards ensuring transparency and accountability while running the country," said the state minister. Bangladesh acceded to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) during Sheikh Hasina's first tenure on October 5, 1998. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights began its meeting in Geneva from March 12 and will continue till March 29 to review a number of countries including Bangladesh. Other countries are Central African Republic (March 19-20), Spain (March 21-22) and New Zealand (March 22-23) while Mexico and Niger are already reviewed. The meetings will take place in the first floor conference room at Palais Wilson in Geneva. The above states are among the 166 that have ratified the ICESCR, and so are reviewed by the committee on how they are implementing the covenant. The committee, which is composed of 18 independent human rights experts, will meet delegations from the respective states to examine a range of issues relating to the covenant.