UN's stance on Bangladesh polls, human rights unchanged

The United Nations' stance on the recently held national elections in Bangladesh and the human rights situation remains unchanged, the UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric has said.

Replying to a question whether the UN Secretary-General disregarded human rights violations and sham elections in Bangladesh when he congratulated Sheikh Hasina for renewing State power, the spokesperson said, "He sent a letter to the Prime Minister as he does to Heads of Governments or Heads of States when they’re re-elected.  What we have said in the past from this podium, what the Human Rights High Commissioner has said remains unchanged."

Stéphane Dujarric made the remarks at a routine press briefing on Monday.

The spokesperson was also asked regarding the Rohingya repatriation issue, to which he said, "Well, first of all, no one should ever be repatriated.  No refugee should be repatriated against their will. It needs to be done voluntarily in a manner that preserves their dignity and their safety.  It is clear for us that the situation in Myanmar currently does not meet the necessary requirements. 

"What we do need is increased global solidarity for those communities that are hosting generously Rohingya refugees, like the community in Cox’s Bazar, which the Secretary-General has visited, because the refugees need our solidarity and the host communities need our solidarity and we need increased funding for all of that."

/KN/