Rights expert not immune from Bangladesh charges-UN

GENEVA, July 18 (Reuters) A United Nations human rights investigator charged in a Bangladesh anti-corruption drive has no immunity against the prosecution, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today said.

The charges laid in June against Sigma Huda, UN special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, ''appear not to be related to, or otherwise fall within, her functions as special rapporteur,'' the spokesman said in a statement.

''No immunity under the convention is applicable in the present case. The government of Bangladesh has been notified accordingly,'' the UN statement read.

The UN Human Rights Council has 28 special rapporteurs reporting to it on issues such as housing, poverty, freedom of religion, racism, and torture, as well as another ten who review specific countries including Somalia, Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar.

While the independent experts are covered under the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations in carrying out their research, it is up to the UN chief to determine whether they apply in each situation.

Jose Diaz, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Huda had denied the charges against her.

She has been reported to suffer from ailments including diabetes and Diaz said she had complained of ill health.

Bangladesh's anti-corruption commission has also filed graft charges against Huda's husband, Nazmul Huda, who served as communication minister in the government of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Neither Sigma nor Nazmul Huda could immediately be reached for comment.

More than 170 political figures have been detained for graft and abuse of power since Dhaka's interim administration took over in January.

REUTERS SM VC1655