UN Committee lauds Bangladesh’s achievements in realization of human rights

The UN Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights commended Bangladesh’s endeavours and achievements at the first review of the National Report of Bangladesh. The recognition came at the 63rd session of the committee for the International Covenant on Economic, Social, Cultural Rights held in Geneva, Switzerland from March 15 to 16. At the review meeting, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam led the Bangladesh delegation comprising the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh Mission in Geneva, officials from Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Employment and Home Affairs. Officials from the Permanent Mission, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Education, Women and Children Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Anti-Corruption Commission and Center for Research and Information also attended the program. The review was conducted by 18 members of the UN committee, who took part in the two-day dialogue and asked questions to the delegation of Bangladesh in relation to the present status of implementation of The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and share future plans. The state minister, in his introductory remarks, mentioned the vision of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights of the people of Bangladesh. He also highlighted various legislative and policy measures as well as Plans of Action and programs and provided statistics as to how the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina progressively realized the peoples’ right to work and an adequate standard of living. Md Shahriar Alam also mentioned the government’s contribution in developing multiple sectors such as education, social protection, and right to form trade unions, and addressed the issues of discrimination, equality, protection of family.

Achievements of Bangladesh

At the event, the UN committee raised issues of women empowerment, the protection of rights of ethnic minorities, status of Anti-discrimination Bill 2015, strengthening Tax systems, protection of labour rights, social safety net, Bangladesh’s plan of transition from informal to formal economy, Birth registration and Child Marriage, amongst others. To respond to the question of addressing the issues of discrimination, the state minister highlighted, among other things, the wide base of the social safety net, the 15th amendment of the constitution in the protection of rights of the ethnic minorities. In this regard, he mentioned that Bangladesh ranked 34th in the world in the Inclusive Development Index. The Committee members appreciated Bangladesh government’s commitment and sincere efforts in addressing the challenges in the realization of the human rights. They also commended Bangladesh for hosting more than one million Rohingyas. In the Closing remarks, the Chair of the Committee Virginia Bras Gomez and the Rapporteur for the Bangladesh review Sandra Liebenberg congratulated Bangladesh for its graduation from LDC. The chair of the committee added that it is a tribute to the efforts that Bangladesh has made in the social, economic and cultural sector, and praised the Bangladesh delegation for a very constructive dialogue with highly positive spirit and sincere answers to the questions raised during the review. The state minister assured that Bangladesh would work in close cooperation with the committee, and would submit its next periodic report on time.