Faridpur Correspondent

The Faridpur district branch of Bangladesh Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam has submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding the cancellation of the agreement related to the establishment and activities of the United Nations Human Rights Commission office in Bangladesh.

On Thursday (August 7) at 11 a.m., leaders of the district branch handed the memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Sohrab Hossain at the Faridpur Deputy Commissioner’s Office.

The memorandum stated that the current government recently signed a three-year agreement to open a United Nations Human Rights Commission office in Bangladesh without holding any discussions with political parties. This move, it claimed, has caused widespread concern at home and abroad. According to the memorandum, the agreement threatens the country’s independence and sovereignty, tarnishes Bangladesh’s global image, undermines cultural and religious values in the region, and negates the achievements of the July uprising. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, on behalf of the people and religious community, strongly demanded through the Deputy Commissioner that the interim government cancel the agreement to open the UN human rights office in Dhaka.

The memorandum further alleged that the country’s sovereignty would be endangered, and controversial issues such as homosexuality, transgender rights, and certain interpretations of freedom of speech — which they claim hurt religious sentiments — are considered human rights by the UN commission. They expressed concern that the office would promote Western cultural practices contrary to Islam, jeopardize the independence of Bangladesh’s judiciary and Human Rights Commission, and undermine the longstanding Muslim family traditions of the country.

Those present at the submission included District President Mufti Kamruzzaman, Vice-President Mufti Zakir Hossain, Maulana Mansur Ahmed, Maulana Delwar Hossain, General Secretary Maulana Ismail, Joint General Secretary Maulana Abdul Matin, and Organizing Secretary Maulana Kabir Ahmed, among others.