The European Union (EU) has again called for abolishing the death penalty.

"The European Union reaffirms its absolute opposition to the use of the death penalty,” said a letter signed by nine heads of mission of the EU countries in Dhaka.

The letter marked the observance of the European Day against the Death Penalty and the World Day against the Death Penalty today.

To mark the day, the EU countries are carrying out a range of activities to highlight the importance of minimum standards being observed in the application of the capital punish-

ment.

The EU envoys in the letter said, "The death penalty concerns everyone's right to life. The state, with its particular responsibility as the ultimate guarantor of all persons' human rights, should not deprive anyone of his or her life."

They said the European Union encourages all measures aimed at abolishing the death penalty.

The envoys referred to a United Nations resolution adopted in 2010, which called upon all states in the world to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

"We hope that all members of the

UN including Bangladesh will take the actions which the Resolution calls for, and thereby contribute more to the development of fundamental rights and human dignity in the world," the EU envoys said.

The letter was signed by French Ambassador Charley Causeret, German Ambassador Holger Michael, the Netherlands Ambassador Alphons Hennekens, Swedish Ambassador Anneli Lindahl Kenny, Danish Ambassador Svend Oiling, Italian Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmino, Spanish Ambassador Luis Tejada Chacon, British High Commissioner Robert Gibson and Ambassador of the European Union William Hanna.