Dhaka: The UN Human Rights Committee has urged Bangladesh to make sure that counterterrorism measures are not used to restrict freedom of expression and opinion of journalists and human rights defenders.

The Committee in its concluding observations and findings on the civil and political rights record said the State party should ensure that its counter-terrorism legislation is in full conformity with the Covenant.

The Committee advocated that the death penalty is not imposed for offences, such as the financing of terrorism, which do not constitute the ‘most serious crimes’ within the meaning of article 6 (2) of the Covenant.

The findings, officially termed concluding observations, contain positive aspects of the respective Bangladesh’s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and also main matters of concern and recommendations, according to a copy of the document UNB obtained from Geneva.  

The Committee is concerned that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) may not have a broad enough mandate to investigate all alleged human rights violations, including those involving State actors such as the police, military and security forces.

It is also concerned that the NHRC lacks sufficient financial and human resources to fulfill its mandate.

“The State party should broaden the mandate of the NHRC and allow it to investigate all alleged human rights violations, including those committed by State military and security actors,” the document reads.

The State party should also provide the NHRC with sufficient financial and human resources to allow it to impartially and independently fulfill its mandate in line with the Paris Principles.

On early marriage, the UN Committee said the State party should amend the Child Marriage Restraint Bill to maintain the legal minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years, in accordance with international norms, without any exceptions.

The State party should take immediate measures to sharply reduce early marriage and prevent dowry practices, including through the implementation of legislation preventing early marriage and dowry practices and by carrying out campaigns to publicise the legislation outlawing such practices, and inform girls, their parents and community leaders of the harmful effects of early marriage, it said.

The Committee said Bangladesh should adopt domestic legislation enabling the implementation of all of the rights in the Covenant and undertake a comprehensive review of its legislation to bring conflicting provisions in line with the Covenant.

The State party should also raise awareness about the rights in the Covenant and domestic law giving effect to these rights among judges, lawyers and prosecutors to ensure that rights guaranteed in the Covenant are upheld by courts, it said.

The Committee welcomed the following legislative and institutional measures taken by the State party since the entry into force of the Covenant in 2000.

These are adoption of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act, in 2010, adoption of the National Women Development Policy 2011, especially the framework for efforts to promote women’s participation in decision-making positions contained in the policy, adoption of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, in 2012, adoption of the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act, in 2013, adoption of the Torture and Custodial Death Prevention Act, in 2013.

The Committee also welcomed the ratification of, or accession to, the following international instruments by Bangladesh.

These are the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, in 2011 and The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in 2007.

The Committee considered the initial report of Bangladesh at its 3339th and 3340th meetings held on March 6 and 7.

At its 3363rd meeting, held on March 22, it adopted the present concluding observations.

The Committee welcomed the submission of the initial report of Bangladesh and the information presented therein, and regrets that it was 14 years overdue.

It expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue with the State party’s high-level delegation on the measures taken by the State party since the entry into force of the Covenant to implement its provisions.