In a media inquiry, Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed the misinformation circulating in Bangladesh over the end-of-mission statement of its outgoing Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet in which she did not cite rights abuses in Bangladesh.

The spokesperson in her response clearly stated that, ‘We regret the misinformation.’ Similarly said, as the High Commissioner had already extensively covered the human rights issues in Bangladesh, she chose to focus her 25 August end-of-mandate statement in Geneva on global issues (climate change, the food, fuel, finance crisis, civic space, etc.) affecting all countries – including Bangladesh – as well as the Rohingya anniversary which was on the day itself. This was not meant to be a “global report”.

In fact, the High Commissioner in her Dhaka statement said, ‘Acknowledging the challenges is always the first step to overcoming them’ and the UN Human Rights Office stands ready to assist in following through on the recommendations made by the High Commissioner as well as other work towards the promotion and protection of human rights in Bangladesh, added Ravina Shamdasani.

Also, on August 17, Bachelet said in Dhaka that the Bangladesh government should acknowledge the allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings and investigate them impartially. ‘I raised my deep concern about these serious allegations with government ministers and highlighted the need for an impartial, independent and transparent investigation into these allegations accompanied by security sector reform,’ said Bachelet in her opening remarks at a press conference before she wrapped up her four-day visit to Bangladesh.

In the pic, Ravina Shamdasani (from https://www.ohchr.org)