UN fact-finding mission to work independently: Foreign adviser

The interim government will not interfere in the United Nations fact-finding mission’s investigation into human rights violation during the recent protests in Bangladesh, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday.

“We want to ensure that they (UN team) can conduct their investigation independently. We will not interfere,” he this while talking to reporters at his office in Dhaka.

The UN team had a courtesy meeting with the foreign adviser, during which they conveyed their willingness to begin the investigation shortly.

The UN team prefers to avoid publicity as they want to run the investigation neutrally, Touhid Hossain said.

The government will support to the UN fact-finding mission if they seek it, the foreign adviser adding that the fact-finding team, now staying in the country, has yet to start its formal activities.

“We appeal for respect for the confidentiality of the fact-finding process," a UN Human Rights Office spokesperson said earlier.

At the invitation of the Bangladesh interim government, a UN Human Rights Office fact-finding team is conducting an independent and impartial investigation into alleged human rights violations took place between July 1 and August 15 this year.

The fact-finding team is mandated to establish facts, identify responsibilities, analyze root causes, and make concrete recommendations for Bangladesh to address past human rights violations and prevent their recurrence, according to a press release of the UN Human Rights Office.