Dhaka on Thursday said isolated and unfounded allegations has been flagged in the recently published 'Bangladesh 2023 Human Rights Report' of the US State Department.
Addressing a press briefing convened in reaction to the report, foreign ministry spokesperson Seheli Sabrina said many of the improvements and achievements of the government have also remained unacknowledged.
It is apparent that the report mostly relies on assumptions and unsubstantiated allegations drawn from local and international non-governmental organisations (including anonymous sources), supported by the US government or related entities, asserts Ms Sabrina.
As such, some inherent and blatant biases are quite evident in the report, she says, adding that former premier Khaleda Zia is not under any form of 'house arrest' as claimed in it.
Contrary to what the report claims, the ministry says the former PM Khaleda Zia is a convicted person with suspended sentence under the executive authority.
"One of the gross missing elements in the report is about a systematic campaign launched last year by anti-state and anti-government elements in the lead up to the 12th general election with intent to create unrest, violence and anarchy under different pretexts and using diverse interest groups."
"While the report accuses the law enforcement of using excessive force in some cases, it fails to reflect on the violence and vandalism perpetrated by the BNP and its political allies, which often disrupted people's lives and damaged public and private property," cites Ms Sabrina.
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