Controversy over UN human rights office in Dhaka, message from interim government

The interim government has clarified that the main objective of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) mission office in Dhaka is to support the promotion and protection of human rights.

According to a statement issued on Saturday (July 19) by Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the OHCHR.

Under this agreement, an OHCHR mission will operate in Bangladesh to assist in promoting and protecting human rights. Its core objective is to provide training and technical assistance to government institutions and civil society organizations. The mission will support Bangladesh in meeting its national and international human rights obligations by enhancing institutional capacity, offering legal support, and strengthening relevant agencies.

The statement further noted that the initiative reflects the government’s continued commitment to accountability and reform, particularly in response to serious human rights violations that occurred in July–August 2024.

It acknowledged that some segments of society have expressed concerns about the ideological perspectives of UN human rights agencies. Bangladesh, as a society enriched with cultural and religious values, expects any international partnership to respect its social and cultural norms. Therefore, the OHCHR mission will focus exclusively on addressing and preventing serious human rights violations and ensuring accountability for crimes committed under previous governments. It will not be used to advance any social agenda outside the country’s legal, social, or cultural framework.

The mission is expected to operate with full transparency and maintain close cooperation with local partners. The United Nations has pledged to fully respect Bangladesh’s cultural and religious context while working in the country.

Furthermore, the statement clarified that Bangladesh’s sovereignty will remain intact under the agreement. The government reserves the right to withdraw from the MoU if it determines the partnership no longer aligns with national interests.

The statement also noted that if such a mission had existed under previous governments—when extrajudicial killings and indiscriminate atrocities occurred—many crimes could have been properly investigated, documented, and prosecuted. “Today, our commitment to human rights must be rooted not in idealism, but in justice,” it stated.

The government views the partnership as an opportunity to strengthen institutions and ensure the protection of citizens—guided by national values, governed by domestic laws, and accountable to the people.