The government has allowed United Nations Human Rights to establish its office in Dhaka for an initial period of three years.

Law Adviser to the Interim Government Dr Asif Nazrul informed the matter to media while speaking at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Sunday (June 29).

“A UN human rights office will open in Bangladesh. Initially, it will function for three years,” he said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk had earlier visited Bangladesh and held several discussions with the government about opening a branch of the mission in the country, he added.

He also informed that the matter was approved in principle at Sunday’s meeting of the Advisory Council. 

“Some dvisers will now review it further, and once finalised, we will send it to Volker Türk,” he added.

Dr Nazrul expressed hope that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard would be signed very soon.

“Once the MoU is signed, a UN human rights office will be established in Bangladesh. After the initial three years, both sides will assess whether it should be extended,” he added.

He also said the new office will play an independent and important role in addressing human rights violations in the country, alongside the existing National Human Rights Commission.

MSK/