Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Press releases Treaty bodies
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination finished its public examination of the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh reports of Bangladesh
20 March 2001
Share
CERD
58th session
20 March 2001
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning finished its public examination of the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh reports of Bangladesh on how that country implements the provisions and mandates enshrined in the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.
A delegation from Bangladesh, responding to questions posed by Committee Experts on Monday, talked about, among other issues, the treatment of the tribal minorities in Bangladesh, and the makeup of Bangladesh's population. There were four tribal MPs in Bangladesh's Parliament. There were also 12 other minorities represented in Parliament.
Concerning the homogeneity of the Bangladeshi people, the delegation said many cultures were merged into one massive Bengali culture. There were pockets in the nation of different cultures, but that did not mean ghettos. The tribal languages were used fully in the localities, but Bengali and English were making inroads. There were broadcasts in tribal languages.
The delegation also said that as soon as the Government learned of an organization that promoted or incited racial discrimination, it took legal action. Further, legislation forming a national human rights commission and an office of an ombudsman were currently being drafted, and were expected to appear before Parliament in the near future.
The Committee will offer its conclusions and recommendations on the reports of Bangladesh later this week before it wraps up its three-week session on 23 March.
Committee Experts also debated the draft conclusions and recommendations on the initial and secondary reports of Japan this morning.
The Committee will resume its meeting at 3 p.m. to adopt its conclusions and recommendations on the reports of Japan, and to consider its draft conclusions and recommendations on the report of Algeria.
Discussion
The Bangladeshi delegation, answering questions posed by Committee Experts on Monday, said there were four tribal MPs in Parliament. There were 12 other minorities represented in Parliament as well .
Asked about organizations that promoted racial discrimination, the delegation said that as soon as this matter came to the attention of the Government, legal action was taken.
Regarding migrants, the delegation said there was no specific problem of migrants and trafficking in Bangladesh. But the Government, noting the gravity of the crime, had undertaken a programme to ensure that there was no trafficking in women and children.
Concerning the homogeneity of the Bangladeshi people, the delegation said many cultures were merged into one massive Bengali culture. There were pockets in the nation of different cultures, but that did not mean ghettos. The tribal languages were used fully in the localities, but Bengali and English were making inroads. There were broadcasts in tribal languages.
The delegation said the homogeneity of the population was a fact of life, and it was considered the number one strength. Despite the poverty, Bangladeshis wanted to be known as belonging to an evolving society.
The delegation said legislation forming a national human rights commission was being drafted, and would be before Parliament in the near future.
Asked about positive discrimination, the delegation said it meant that there was fast-track action for the most economically disadvantaged people. Even the most developed States practiced elements of affirmative action.
Answering a question on whether there were any nature based religions practised in Bangladesh, the delegation said if anybody practised them, it would be recorded in the census forms.
Legislation creating the office of the Ombudsman was being drafted now, the delegation said. The Swedish office of the Ombudsman was providing technical assistance.
An Amnesty International report from last year said implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord had been slow. The delegation said that this was a comprehensive accord, and its implementation would take time. Bangladesh hoped that the Accord was looked at in its totality, and not by looking at progress on only a few elements.
A foreigner in Bangladesh enjoyed full human rights, the delegation said.
The delegation said fundamental rights were only enforced by the high court of the land because they were very special rights that should not be in the hands of lower courts. It was a widespread practice in many States.
RAGHAVAN VASUDEVAN PILLAI, the Committee=s Rapporteur on the reports, said it was important to see that the reports mentioned the implementation of the Accord. It was necessary to continue the positive movement forward that the Accord addressed. It appeared that questions of human rights could be addressed by lower courts as well as the highest court in the land. There was a recommendation to enact a law that would provide remedies within local courts. Perhaps it was a matter that could be placed before the commission that would soon be established.
Mr. Pillai said the Committee was satisfied with the definition of positive discrimination. The commission would be seen as a major instrument to address human rights issues in general, and racial discrimination issues in particular.
* *** *
58th session
20 March 2001
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning finished its public examination of the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh reports of Bangladesh on how that country implements the provisions and mandates enshrined in the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.
A delegation from Bangladesh, responding to questions posed by Committee Experts on Monday, talked about, among other issues, the treatment of the tribal minorities in Bangladesh, and the makeup of Bangladesh's population. There were four tribal MPs in Bangladesh's Parliament. There were also 12 other minorities represented in Parliament.
Concerning the homogeneity of the Bangladeshi people, the delegation said many cultures were merged into one massive Bengali culture. There were pockets in the nation of different cultures, but that did not mean ghettos. The tribal languages were used fully in the localities, but Bengali and English were making inroads. There were broadcasts in tribal languages.
The delegation also said that as soon as the Government learned of an organization that promoted or incited racial discrimination, it took legal action. Further, legislation forming a national human rights commission and an office of an ombudsman were currently being drafted, and were expected to appear before Parliament in the near future.
The Committee will offer its conclusions and recommendations on the reports of Bangladesh later this week before it wraps up its three-week session on 23 March.
Committee Experts also debated the draft conclusions and recommendations on the initial and secondary reports of Japan this morning.
The Committee will resume its meeting at 3 p.m. to adopt its conclusions and recommendations on the reports of Japan, and to consider its draft conclusions and recommendations on the report of Algeria.
Discussion
The Bangladeshi delegation, answering questions posed by Committee Experts on Monday, said there were four tribal MPs in Parliament. There were 12 other minorities represented in Parliament as well .
Asked about organizations that promoted racial discrimination, the delegation said that as soon as this matter came to the attention of the Government, legal action was taken.
Regarding migrants, the delegation said there was no specific problem of migrants and trafficking in Bangladesh. But the Government, noting the gravity of the crime, had undertaken a programme to ensure that there was no trafficking in women and children.
Concerning the homogeneity of the Bangladeshi people, the delegation said many cultures were merged into one massive Bengali culture. There were pockets in the nation of different cultures, but that did not mean ghettos. The tribal languages were used fully in the localities, but Bengali and English were making inroads. There were broadcasts in tribal languages.
The delegation said the homogeneity of the population was a fact of life, and it was considered the number one strength. Despite the poverty, Bangladeshis wanted to be known as belonging to an evolving society.
The delegation said legislation forming a national human rights commission was being drafted, and would be before Parliament in the near future.
Asked about positive discrimination, the delegation said it meant that there was fast-track action for the most economically disadvantaged people. Even the most developed States practiced elements of affirmative action.
Answering a question on whether there were any nature based religions practised in Bangladesh, the delegation said if anybody practised them, it would be recorded in the census forms.
Legislation creating the office of the Ombudsman was being drafted now, the delegation said. The Swedish office of the Ombudsman was providing technical assistance.
An Amnesty International report from last year said implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord had been slow. The delegation said that this was a comprehensive accord, and its implementation would take time. Bangladesh hoped that the Accord was looked at in its totality, and not by looking at progress on only a few elements.
A foreigner in Bangladesh enjoyed full human rights, the delegation said.
The delegation said fundamental rights were only enforced by the high court of the land because they were very special rights that should not be in the hands of lower courts. It was a widespread practice in many States.
RAGHAVAN VASUDEVAN PILLAI, the Committee=s Rapporteur on the reports, said it was important to see that the reports mentioned the implementation of the Accord. It was necessary to continue the positive movement forward that the Accord addressed. It appeared that questions of human rights could be addressed by lower courts as well as the highest court in the land. There was a recommendation to enact a law that would provide remedies within local courts. Perhaps it was a matter that could be placed before the commission that would soon be established.
Mr. Pillai said the Committee was satisfied with the definition of positive discrimination. The commission would be seen as a major instrument to address human rights issues in general, and racial discrimination issues in particular.
* *** *