Delegation of UN High Commission for Human Rights called to keep social media and OTT free
The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has called on the interim government not to regulate social media and OTT platforms in the name of surveillance like the previous Awami League government. Adviser on Information and Broadcasting and Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Nahid Islam has sought the help of the United Nations in a proper investigation of human rights violations during the student-crowd movement, promised to remain cool in this regard.
A four-member delegation headed by Rory Mungoven, Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the Asia-Pacific region, made this call during a courtesy visit at the Office of the Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. They talked to the Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Adviser on Youth and Sports simultaneously.
In the meeting, Rory Mungoven congratulated the interim government and said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was inspired by the bravery shown by the people of Bangladesh, especially the youth, in protecting democracy and human rights. He considers this incident as an opportunity for Bangladesh. Rory Mungoven also said that they are ready to cooperate in any way to establish truth and justice.
Another member of the delegation, Huma Khan, Senior Adviser on Human Rights Affairs of the Coordination Team of the United Nations Resident Office in Bangladesh, emphasized the preservation of evidence of events organized during the movement. For this reason, she advised Bangladesh's Ministry of Law, Home Affairs and Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology to take joint initiatives. This will make it easier to use the evidence as evidence in future investigations and to bring the guilty under the law.
Meanwhile, the UN official requested not to control social media and OTT platforms in the name of monitoring like the previous government. If necessary, they also expressed their intention to send experts to work with the government.
On the other hand, while applauding the United Nations for coming forward to expose the criminals against humanity in suppressing the reform movement, Advisor Nahid Islam said, we have achieved this freedom through many sacrifices, we have got people from all walks of life with us. Through this upsurge, we have made some commitments to the countrymen, we are working on those, as well as trying to maintain national unity by keeping the spirit of the revolution.
The adviser said that the interim government is giving priority to reforming the state structure, providing rehabilitation and long-term benefits to the families of those injured in the movement and ensuring justice through fair investigation of those involved in the killings that took place during the movement.
He also said that we thank the United Nations and Human Rights Organizations for being with us the entire time. We had previously informed them of the apprehension that the previous government would move towards a final crack down; Later that really happened. We want the people of the world to know what happened in Bangladesh during this period of agitation through a fair investigation under the UN, how brutal the previous Awami League government was towards the protesting students and crowd.
On the other hand, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Labor and Employment, said that the youth of Bangladesh is interested in sports. The previous Awami League government committed corruption at all levels in the sports arena. Our government is working to rid the sports arena of corruption and politics.
He said that due to the deterioration of the ongoing flood situation in the country, 8500 youth organizations registered by the Youth Development Department are continuously working to deal with the flood situation. The adviser said that the Ministry of Labor and Employment is one of the most important ministries in Bangladesh. After taking over, talks were held with the victims of Tazreen Fashion and Rana Plaza tragedies. Our workers are one of the tools to keep the country's economy alive but our labor brothers are deprived of their just rights. Ensuring their rights is our primary goal. We need international cooperation to improve their quality of life.
OHCHR Human Rights Officer Alexandra James Amil El Junaid and UN Asia Pacific Regional Human Rights Officer Livia Cosenaza attended the meeting of this delegation of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
