UN human rights chief invited to Bangladesh

Dhaka, Feb 24: Bangladesh has invited the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein to visit Dhaka and see the human rights situation amid the ongoing political violence, media reported on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said that he had invited him during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Washington, bdnews24 reported.

"He showed his interest in visiting Bangladesh," Ali said.

Ali and the UN chief's meeting was held on the sidelines of the White House sponsored summit on countering violent extremism amid violence back home.

The Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and its allies have enforced a countrywide transport blockade and shutdowns since Jan 5 to press for interim elections.

More than 100 people have been killed, most of them in firebomb attacks on public vehicles.

A section of the civil society has been calling for a dialogue while the government insists that violence must end first.

Following the continued blockade, the UN chief has also written letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and reportedly called for dialogue between the parties.

IANS