Bangladesh joins UN convention on protection from enforced disappearances

Bangladesh on Thursday signed the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. 

Bangladesh became the 76th party to the convention in the world as Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus signed the instrument at a weekly meeting of the interim government's council of advisers.

“It is a historic occasion,” the chief adviser's press wing quoted him as saying. 

With this, Bangladesh is now party to all nine core UN human rights treaties.

The international convention was adopted in New York on December 20, 2006.

The foreign ministry said the signing of all UN human rights conventions reflected the aspiration of the people of Bangladesh for freedom and justice for everyone.

The signing comes a day before International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. 

The enforced disappearance issue came to the fore after the formation of the interim government on August 8 after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister on August 5 amid a mass uprising.

The interim government earlier this week formed a commission to investigate every case of enforced disappearances by security forces under Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year-long rule.