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DHAKA, March 16, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam today reiterated the government's commitment to protecting human rights, saying Bangladesh witnessed repeated violations over the past 17 years under the previous regime.
"We have seen how human rights were repeatedly violated in different sectors during the past 17 years," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this evening.
The State Minister said the BNP-led government remains committed to strengthening human rights protections in the country.
"BNP worked in the past to protect and strengthen human rights and the government will continue its efforts to reinforce those protections in the future," she said when asked about a letter sent by several international human rights organisations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Responding to another question, the State Minister said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which was formed to maintain law and order and protect citizens, had been used against people during the tenure of the Awami League government, leading to human rights violations.
During the briefing, the State Minister also said Bangladesh has requested consular access to India to meet the two main suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman bin Hadi.
However, Bangladesh has not yet received consular access from the Indian government and the matter is currently under process, she added.
"We are in contact with Kolkata and also maintaining communication with the Indian authorities. Our government is making every effort to obtain consular access and bring them back," she said.
The State Minister added that the Ministry of Home Affairs is also working on the matter while the government hopes for cooperation from India.
