UN HC airs concern over media freedom, disappearance, DSA

Visiting United Nations High Commissioner (HC) for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in her meetings with the ministers concerned in the capital on Sunday raised concern over enforced disappearance, media freedom, and the Digital Security Act (DSA).
In response, the government high-ups told her that most of these concerns are concocted, and the present government is seriously sincere in improving the situation regarding human rights, enforced disappearance, and extra-judicial killings.
"I told her that we are not aware of the term enforced disappearance. We were told that 76 people became victims of enforced disappearance, but we found many of them," Foreign Minister (FM) Dr A K Abdul Momen told the newsmen after his meeting with Ms Bachelet.
"We discussed about the issue of extra-judicial killings, and we told her that in the US around 1,000 persons were killed extra-judicially."
"In 2003 or 2004, we heard of extra-judicial killings, but now we do not hear of such killings."
Mr Momen also suspected that some people, like David Bergman or Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch, were paid to create a negative image of the present government (by writing against it) in the international media.
The UN HC also raised the issue of press freedom, saying they got allegations that none could talk to media freely in Bangladesh.
"But I have told her that the government does not impose any kind of censorship on media."
The foreign minister noted that he himself was highly criticised by media off and on. The media can criticise him, as it is totally free.
"But I do not mind, because as a public figure I can be criticised by media."
He also said the UN HC expressed her intention to continue the UN's ongoing support to the Rohingya refugees.
"I told her that the countries, which are very much vocal about human rights issues, have raised their trade volume with Myanmar manifold in the last five-six years."
"For example, the UK's investment in Myanmar increased by 100 per cent to reach US$2.3 billion, whereas its investment in our country stood at $2.5 billion in the last 50 years."
Law Minister Annisul Huq said he told Michelle Bachelet that the government formed a team to amend the DSA, and its members are in close contact with the UN Human Rights HC's office to know the best practices regarding the DSA.
"We have informed her that the government gives high priority to human rights issues, as our prime minister herself was a victim of human rights violations."
The minister informed that the HC intended to provide trainings to the local law-enforcing agencies on human rights issues.
"We have told her that we also want this, and we requested her to send a proposal in this regard," he added.

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