National Human Rights Commission approved

Dhaka, Dec 9 (bdprem.com)—The interim cabinet Sunday approved an ordinance to set up the National Human Rights Commission, a government spokesman said. Your Ad Here The decision comes a day before the nation is set observe United Nations Human Rights Day. A six-member search committee will handpick three members for the president to appoint them to the commission, the chief adviser's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said in a press briefing, referring to the ordinance. The ordinance was approved at a meeting of the cabinet at the Chief Adviser's Office. One of the three will be the chairman of the commission to be appointed for a three-year term, Munaim said. At least one member will be a retired or serving judge of the Supreme Court. Others must have experience in human-rights issues, he said. The ordinance set the age limit for the members who must be no younger than 50 or older than 72 years. In a message, chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed said: "The decision to establish the National Human Rights Commission is a manifestation of the government's total commitment in this regard." Bangladesh is a party to all major human rights instruments and has always been supportive of the role of the United Nations in protecting and promoting human rights globally, he said. "Our decision to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities—the latest human rights instrument—reconfirms our commitment," Fakhruddin said.