Bangladesh becomes UNHRC member

FT ONLINE

Bangladesh has been elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The UN members took part in the election during the world body’s annual general assembly in New York on Friday morning local time.

Needing 97 votes to become a member of the top rights body of the UN, Bangladesh secured 178 votes.

The elections were held to total 18 vacant seats in the council. Bangladesh is among the five countries elected from the Asia and Pacific region for three years from January 2018.

India secured the highest 188 votes. The other members in the bloc are Bahrain, Fiji and the Philippines.

The Geneva-based council works on human rights across the globe.

The election of Bangladesh to the council is recognition of the progress the country has made in different human rights indices, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Masud Bin Momen thinks.

“Especially, Bangladesh’s positive role in sheltering and taking care of the Rohingya refugees has been reflected (in the UNHRC elections),” he said.

“Bangladesh is making progress on all fronts under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. All the quarters are hailing our journey towards the ‘Highway of Development’. I believe the recognition of progress in human rights will now create a fantastic inspiration at all levels in Bangladesh,” he added.

The council is made up of 47 UN member states from five regions, which are elected by the UNGA. It was created in 2006.