We’re mulling setting up rights cell

The foreign ministry is considering setting up a human rights cell under the supervision of the foreign ministry director general (UN) to better analyse the country's human rights situation and rightly present it before the international community.

"We are considering a human rights cell with a director so that we can give more importance on the human rights issues," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told journalists at the ministry yesterday.

The move comes following December 10 US sanctions on Rab and seven of its current and former officials on the grounds of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

Besides, 12 international human rights organisations in November wrote to the UN, calling for banning Rab in UN Peacekeeping Mission. Bangladesh is one of the highest troop-sending countries to the missions.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen late December spoke to the US secretary of state and wrote a letter, requesting him to reconsider the sanction on Rab. He is also writing letters to US senators and congressmen.

Foreign Secretary Masud said, "We want to present the whole truth to the international community, especially those who work on human rights in Geneva and New York."

He said Bangladesh has many achievements in the areas of human rights and those also will be presented before them.

"In that case, if we need to appoint lobbyists, we will also do it."