DHAKA: The visiting European Union parliamentary (EP) delegation has expressed their concern over the ongoing human rights situations in Bangladesh.

They also exposed their dissatisfaction over Wednesday’s remarks of the state minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam about EP observation regarding country’s human rights situations following a meeting with the delegation on Wednesday.

Cristian Dan Preda, head of the delegation, came up with their concern and dissatisfaction while talking to the journalists after meeting with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Professor Mizanur Rahman at the commission in the city on Thursday.

In reply to a query whether the EP is concerned over human right situations in Bangladesh, Cristian Dan Preda said, “My definition is very simple, we are here because we are very concern about human rights situation in Bangladesh.”  

On Wednesday, Shahriar, who had a meeting with the team of European Parliament's sub-committee on human rights at the foreign ministry, reportedly told the journalists that the delegation expressed no concern about the human rights situation in Bangladesh.

Speaking to the journalists after EP team’s meeting with NHRC, Professor Mizanur Rahman admitted that minister’s remarks had an impact on his meeting with the delegation.

The chairman said that, in the meeting, the delegation opposed the prevailing violence and also expressed concern over mass arrests.       

They (the delegation) also opposed the acts of sabotages even those are being carried out in demand of establishing justices.

At the meeting, the delegation also advocated for not to amend the NGO (non-government organization) act as the amendment will lessen the NGO’s right to work independently, the NHRC Chairman added.

BDST: 1717,1809 HRS, FEB 19, 2015