Post-1975 military regimes Bangladesh saw massive human rights violations: PM

After returning to country from forced exile, she said they were barred from seeking justice due to that ordinance.

She said the then military government even rehabilitated killers of Bangabandhu and war criminals in politics.

Bachelet, who was president of Chili for two times, said her family also had to suffer inhuman torture like Bangladesh Prime Minister when an oppressive government was in power in her country.

The UN high commissioner said she was “deeply moved” after visiting the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum where the Father of the Nation with most of his family members were brutally killed on 15 August 1975.

During the meeting, they discussed the current world issues and agreed that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions have created crisis across the globe.

Myanmar will has to bring their nationals back to their country, she said.

She also said Bangladesh never wants war with anyone.

Referring to the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) peace treaty, she said 62,000 refugees had returned to Bangladesh while 1800 arms cadres had surrendered after that deal.

Bachelet requested Bangladesh prime minister to create scope for education and employments for Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar.

The premier replied that they can arrange those scopes for Rohingyas in Bhashan Char.

The UN high commissioner said the UN is working with the law ministry on the Digital Security Act and gave some observations to this end.

Sheikh Hasina said she knew the matter and added that Bangladesh would not allow anyone to use its soil for terrorism.

She briefly highlighted the government measures taken for overall development of Bangladesh.

She said the Padma Bridge contributes to development of southern people of the country.

“We are laying emphasis on agriculture for country’s development while we are establishing agro processing industries,” she added.

The prime minister also said over 1.87 lakh families have got houses free of costs under Ashrayan projects as the government is working to bring every homeless and landless people under the housing scheme.

Bachelet appreciated Bangladesh SDG implementation progress and work for addressing inequality.

She also greeted the premier for graduating Bangladesh to a developing nation from a least developed one.

Both of them also discussed the climate change impact.

The premier said they stressed aforestation in coastal regions as they are vulnerable to climate change.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, state minister Md Shahriar Alam, PM’s principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and UN resident coordinator in Dhaka Gwyn Lewis, were present.

Bachelet arrived here on a four-day visit on Sunday morning last.