UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed his concerns over allegations that the justice system is being used to harass human rights advocates, journalists and civil society leaders in Bangladesh.

Türk voiced the concerns while presenting his global update at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday.

Volker Türk called for a swift review of the cases filed against opposition leaders and activists in Bangladesh and urged political dialogue and reconciliation.

Talking about Bangladesh, the UN rights chief said, ‘I am concerned that thousands of opposition party leaders and activists remain in detention and that a number of deaths in custody have been reported since October.’

‘While I condemn any form of political violence,’ the he said, ‘I urge a swift review of all these cases, with a view to their release, to encourage political dialogue and reconciliation.’

‘I continue to be concerned by allegations that the justice system is being used to harass human rights advocates, journalists, and civil society leaders.’

‘I encourage investigation into alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, in line with international standards,’ he concluded.

Bangladesh saw a large-scale arrest of opposition in the run-up to the January 7 elections.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party said that over 25,000 people were arrested, and 13 of their leaders and activists died in prison custody before and after the election.

The BNP and most other opposition parties boycotted the election, which was marred by violence and low voter turnout.

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