Amnesty International visits Bangladesh

Amnesty International visits Bangladesh
Date: January 4, 2007
Source: Amnesty International

An Amnesty International delegation, led by Secretary General Irene Khan, is making a special trip to Bangladesh to discuss human rights issues with members of its government, political parties and civil society.

The mission comes on the eve of the anniversary of 2007's declaration of the state of emergency. It is the first visit of an Amnesty International Secretary General to the country. The spotlight will be on the rule of law, with special focus on the institutional changes necessary to promote and protect human rights in Bangladesh.

Representatives of the delegation will visit Dhaka and Rajshahi and will meet with survivors of human rights violations and members of civil society. They will meet senior members of the caretaker government, including the Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, the Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, and Adviser of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Barrister Mainul Hosein.

The time of the meeting with General Moeen U Ahmed, the Chief of Army Staff, is still to be confirmed.

Mission highlights:
Saturday 5 January DHAKA
The delegation will meet with NGOs and other members of civil society to discuss the current human rights situation within the country.

Sunday 6 January RAJSHAHI
The delegation will carry out a field visit to Rajshahi, the scene of anti-government protests in August 2007.

The delegation will visit projects by BRAC (an international development organization) in Tangail and Rajshahi, focussing on their human rights, legal services, microfinance, health, education programmes.

Tuesday 8 January DHAKA
Irene Khan will meet Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury (Adviser on Foreign Affairs).

Irene Khan will deliver the keynote address at the event "Human rights: countering the disappointment of democracy" organized by Daily Star/Prothom Alo.

Wednesday 9 January DHAKA
Irene Khan will meet Barrister Mainul Hosein (Adviser of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs) and Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed (Chief Advisor of caretaker government).

Irene Khan will launch Amnesty International's new Bangla website during a discussion on freedom of expression.

Thursday 10 January DHAKA
Irene Khan will hold a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Dhaka, to present the findings of her visit.