Shikarpur: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk on Tuesday said he is aware of the growing misinformation and offered the support of the UN human rights office to address what he described as a growing misinformation challenge. ‘There is a lot of misinformation. We will do whatever is needed,’ Trk said, adding that the UN rights agency would work closely with Bangladesh to tackle the issue.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the UN rights chief made the remarks as Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus sought support from the United Nations human rights office to counter a surge of misinformation targeting the February 12 elections. ‘There has been a flood of misinformation surrounding the elections. It is coming from both foreign media and local sources,’ Prof Yunus said during a telephone conversation with Volker Trk. ‘They have flooded social media with fake news, rumours and speculation. We are concerned about the impact this may have on the elections,’ he added.
During the conversation, the two leaders also discussed the upcoming referendum, the importance of institutional reforms, the work of the Enforced Disappearance Commission, the formation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the global geopolitical situation. High Commissioner Trk stressed the importance of establishing ‘a truly independent’ National Human Rights Commission to carry forward the work related to enforced disappearances, according to Chief Adviser’s press wing.
In response, Prof Yunus said the NHRC ordinance has already been promulgated and that a new commission would be reconstituted ahead of the February 12 elections. ‘We will do it before we leave,’ he said. The Chief Adviser said he had shared the final report of the Enforced Disappearance Commission with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, describing it as a crucial document that would go a long way toward ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of enforced disappearances during the autocratic regime from 2009 to 2024.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk praised the Chief Adviser’s efforts over the past year and a half. He said his office had supported the work of the Enforced Disappearance Commission and would continue to do so. SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was present during the conversation.