Legal adviser Professor Asif Nazrul said, 'There is no question of changing the law of death penalty in Bangladesh before completing the trial of the fascists.' On Tuesday (October 29), he said these things in response to journalists' questions after a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.
Asif Nazrul said, 'Volker Turk has expressed full support to the current interim government. He talked about making the judiciary independent. Told him, we are working. Talked about the Criminal Tribunal. Whether the provision of death penalty can be abolished. As we have said, it is not a question of change before the fascists are tried.'
Stating that the government's election journey has started, the legal adviser said that the search committee regarding the formation of the election commission has been formed. It will be gazetted after the signature of the Principal Adviser. He may have already signed it.
At that time, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in response to the questions of the journalists, “I spoke with the legal adviser about the establishment of the rule of law and human rights issues.” These two issues are related to each other. I have mentioned the matter of ensuring human rights in the reform initiatives taken by the present government in various fields. A fact-finding committee is working on the July massacre. We are considering the matter seriously. Our head office is monitoring the whole matter.
Earlier this morning, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk arrived in Dhaka on a two-day official visit. He was received at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by the Director General of the United Nations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taufiq Hasan.
During the visit, Turk will hold several meetings with high-ranking government officials and civil society representatives. According to a press release issued by the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, during the visit, the chief advisor of the High Commissioner, Professor Dr. Muhammad will meet with Yunus.
The UN human rights chief will also hold meetings with advisers to various ministries, chief justices, army chiefs and heads of various reform commissions. Apart from this, Turk will also address an event at Dhaka University and it is said that he will meet representatives of the anti-discrimination student movement there. Volker Türk is also scheduled to meet with various UN organizations and members of the diplomatic mission in Bangladesh.
