DHAKA, Aug 30, 2024 (BSS) - The United Nation High Commissioner for Human
Rights Volker Türk has warmly welcomed the announcement of Bangladesh's
accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus signed the Instrument of Accession
to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearances on Thursday.

"The issue of enforced disappearances has a long and painful history in
Bangladesh, on which the UN Human Rights Office and UN human rights
mechanisms have advocated robustly," said spokesperson for the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani in a statement today.

The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance was adopted in New York on 20 December in 2006.

Shamdasani said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also welcomed the
Bangladesh government's interim government as it formed a five-member
national commission of inquiry to determine the whereabouts of individuals
forcibly disappeared allegedly by law enforcement agencies.

"We stand ready to support the Commission in its work, which should be in
close consultation with victims and their families and in line with
international human rights standards, including the guiding principles for
the search for disappeared persons," she said in the statement.

Shamdasani said The UN Human Rights Office looks forward to supporting the
Interim Government and people of Bangladesh at this pivotal moment to
revitalise democracy, seek accountability and reconciliation, and advance
human rights for all the people in Bangladesh.

The spokesperson also said Volker Türk has received an official invitation
from the Chief Advise r, Muhammad Yunus, to conduct an impartial and
independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from
1 July to 15 August.

She said the Office will deploy a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in the
coming weeks, with a view to reporting on violations and abuses perpetrated
during the protests, analysing root causes and, and making recommendations to
advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms.

The team received commitments from the Interim Government and security forces
for full cooperation in this work.