UN Rights Commissioner thinks no press freedom in Bangladesh, Momen disagrees

UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet today discussed various aspects of human rights in Bangladesh including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, shrinking of media freedom and civil society. She also opined that there is no press freedom in Bangladesh. 

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Law Minister Anisul Huq briefed reporters in this regard after separate meetings with her at the State Guest House Padma today.

Momen said there were allegations that 76 people disappeared in the last 10 years and out of them, 10 were found. "

Their families don't give information out of fear. We would like to know about them," he said.

They (UN) think that there is no media freedom in Bangladesh and the government imposes censorship but "I don't see any such thing," Momen said, adding that the media in Bangladesh is very strong.

They (UN) think the media in Bangladesh is under control, he added.

He told Bachelet that there are 2800 newspapers published in the country every day.

"They also think that we don't have any civil society here. But I told her there is a strong civil society here. Several thousand NGOs are operating in Bangladesh."

In regards to extrajudicial killings, Momen said that that since 2008 there is no report of such killing.

"Such killings used to take place in 2003, 2004, 2005. However, if there are such cases, the government will investigate them," Momen added.  

Law Minister Anisul Huq said he discussed the issues of Digital Security Act, human rights and training of law enforcers.