Bangladesh eagerly waiting to welcome UN rights chief Bachelet: Shahriar

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said the government is eagerly waiting to welcome UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet which will give her an opportunity to see the progress and challenges in Bangladesh on the rights front.

“We are eagerly waiting for that visit. She will see the progress and will be able to know about the challenges,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

Her four-day visit at the invitation of the government of Bangladesh is scheduled to begin on August 14.

Bachelet, who assumed her functions as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2018, will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Law Minister Anisul Huq.

“They (PM Hasina and Bachelet) are very good friends,” said the State Minister, adding that they have experiences in working together.

Bachelet will be holding meetings with the UN representatives and civil society groups and will be visiting Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.

She will also try to understand how climate change is affecting the human rights situation in Bangladesh.

Bachelet was elected President of Chile on two occasions (2006 – 2010 and 2014 – 2018). She was the first female president of Chile.

She has recently indicated that she would not seek a second term for personal reasons as her term as High Commissioner draws to a close.