UN Human Rights Mission Launches Operations in Dhaka

Dhaka, July 19, 2025: The United Nations Human Rights Office has officially launched a mission in Dhaka to support the promotion and protection of human rights in Bangladesh. This week, the Government of Bangladesh and the UN Human Rights Office signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the mission, marking a significant step toward strengthening human rights frameworks in the country

The MoU was signed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh, according to a press statement issued by the UN Human Rights Office from Geneva on Friday, July 18. Volker Türk stated, “The signing of this memorandum sends an important message of the country’s commitment to human rights as a cornerstone of the transition.” He emphasized that the mission will enable the UN Human Rights Office to support the implementation of recommendations from its fact-finding report and work closely with the government, civil society, and other stakeholders to advance fundamental reforms in Bangladesh.[ A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that, although the agreement was not finalized through formal in-person discussions, the Foreign Secretary signed the MoU and sent it to Geneva. The three-year agreement includes provisions for renewal upon completion The new mission will provide training and technical assistance to help Bangladesh meet its national and international human rights obligations. It will focus on capacity-building for government institutions and civil society organizations, with an emphasis on addressing serious human rights violations, particularly those that occurred during the protests in July–August 2024 The initiative reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to reform and accountability, with the government retaining the sovereign authority to withdraw from the agreement if it no longer aligns with national interests. The UN has pledged to operate with full transparency and respect for Bangladesh’s cultural and religious values, ensuring the mission focuses solely on promoting justice and preventing human rights violations.

This development is seen as a critical opportunity to strengthen national institutions and enhance protections for all citizens, particularly in light of past human rights challenges, including extrajudicial killings and violence during protests