The interim government on Thursday approved a proposal to establish an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bangladesh -- initially for three years.
The council of advisers gave the final approval to the draft memorandum of understanding in this regard at a meeting at the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office in the capital with chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair, said a press release issued by the Cabinet Division.
Earlier, on June 29, the advisory council approved a draft MoU in principle regarding the establishment of the OHCHR office in the country.
After that approval, law adviser Asif Nazrul on that day told journalists that based on the signed MoU, an office of the OHCHR would be established in Bangladesh primarily for three years.
If the two sides think that a renewal is necessary, he added, it can be considered.
A UN fact-finding mission past year submitted a report on human rights violations in Bangladesh highlighting the events of July and August in the year.
The report said that about 1,400 people were killed during the July uprising and in the aftermath.
The interim government earlier agreed with the UN to establish the UN human rights office in Dhaka for further investigations into human rights violations during the student-led mass uprising that overthrew the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The UN fact-finding mission in its report published on February 12 this year said that the Hasina regime and security and intelligence services, alongside violent elements associated with the Awami League, systematically engaged in a range of serious human rights violations during the student-led protests.
During his visit to Dhaka in October 2024, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T眉rk, in a meeting with the chief adviser, expressed his willingness to strengthen their presence in Bangladesh.
Established in 2006, the Human Rights Council has been responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.
The UN human rights body鈥檚 18 country or standalone offices include 16 country offices in Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Liberia, Mauritania, Mexico, Niger, the State of Palestine, the Syrian Arab Republic (based in Beirut), Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen; one field-based structure in Seoul that covers the Republic of Korea, and the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, according to the OHCHR.
In establishing country and standalone offices, the UN human rights body negotiates with the host government a full mandate that includes human rights protection and promotion.
The advisory council at the meeting also gave the final approval to the drafts of the National Sports Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 and the Moheshkhali Integrated Development Authority Ordinance, 2025.
It also cleared a proposal to establish a consulate general of Bangladesh in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The council approved another proposal for accession of Bangladesh in the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
