POBNEWS24, Dhaka July 16, 2025 : The UN wants lifelong immunity for the officials who will be appointed to the proposed human rights office in Bangladesh. In addition, Bangladesh will have to take responsibility for all the activities of this office. Such a condition has been laid down in the draft proposed by the UN. However, the government has not yet agreed to this. As a result, uncertainty has arisen about the signing of the memorandum of understanding approved by the Advisory Council.
Dhaka says that, none of the embassies, high commissions or offices of international organizations in Bangladesh have been given such facilities. Even other UN organizations have not been given this facility. As a result, the government does not want to give this facility to the human rights office either. This information has been learned from sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The UN wants to open a human rights office in Bangladesh. Dhaka has agreed in principle to open this office. To take the matter forward, the Advisory Council has approved the signing of a draft memorandum of understanding. However, the organization claimed that it did not contact the UN before approving the memorandum of understanding.
They were not given a copy of the draft finalized by Dhaka. As a result, the UN will not sign the approved memorandum of understanding without reviewing it.
On June 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an inter-ministerial meeting on the establishment of the UN Human Rights Office. The meeting was chaired by the then Acting Foreign Secretary and attended by the concerned parties. The officials who participated in the meeting objected to Articles 17(2), 19, 20(3), 23(3), 24 and 26 in the proposed draft. The meeting decided not to include Articles 24 and 26. It was also decided to amend the immunity and jurisdiction-related issues in the draft in accordance with the agreements already signed with other UN agencies.
So far, all foreign missions that have come to work in Bangladesh have come through ‘Host Country Agreements’. Bangladesh has not signed any memorandum of understanding with anyone. As a result, the meeting advised that previous agreements be followed in opening the UN Human Rights Office as well.
An official present at the meeting, on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent that the draft of the agreement sent by the UN has added some more issues to the conditions of the host country agreement.
If the memorandum of understanding is signed, there is no legal obligation. As a result, a host country agreement is needed to ensure legal obligations. And Bangladesh has a host country agreement with all UN agencies. Then why will the memorandum of understanding be signed with the Human Rights Office? – he asked.
What are the two omitted clauses?
In clause 24 of the UN proposed draft, permission is sought for the spouses of officials coming to work in Bangladesh to work in this country. Generally, spouses of diplomats coming to work in Bangladesh are not given permission to work. In addition, the UN has asked that the government help officials, mission experts and service providers find accommodation as far as possible. Those concerned have said that Bangladesh will not agree to this clause.
The UN has said that Bangladesh will be held responsible for all activities conducted and arising under Article 26. However, it will not apply in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct by any party. Bangladesh does not agree with this article either.
The remaining four articles?
Article 17(2) of the proposed MoU seeks immunity from liability for local officials in the office. The memorandum states that this immunity will remain in force even after retirement from service. Dhaka does not agree with this.
Article 19(1) states that all persons mentioned in the memorandum will have the right to enter and leave Bangladesh as well as to remain within the country. In this case, the laws of Bangladesh will apply to them in necessary cases. The government wants to delete this article too. Article 19(2) talks about freedom of movement in Bangladesh, which will be amended, according to sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 20(3) of the MoU talks about travel, visas, entry permits and other related matters. Article 23(3) highlights social protection issues. Dhaka wants to follow these articles, which are similar to those in host country agreements for other UN agencies.
When asked about the changes, an official from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights told this correspondent “We have heard that changes have been made or are being made to the proposal we made. However, nothing has been officially announced by the government yet. Therefore, it would not be right to comment in detail on the changes. However, I will only say this much, those who will work in this office will do so at their own risk. It is our responsibility to ensure their safety.”
According to the UN website, there are currently 16 UN Human Rights offices or ‘country offices’ in 16 countries. In addition, there is a head office in Geneva, Switzerland, and an office in New York, USA for intergovernmental coordination. Apart from these, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has 13 regional offices. Permission is awaited to establish these offices in 43 countries, including Bangladesh.
The Office for Human Rights works on human rights issues, including disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture and death in detention, all forms of discrimination, and the establishment of all kinds of rights, including gay rights, in countries. The United Nations engages with the relevant countries on the basis of a full mandate to protect and promote human rights through the establishment of local offices.
