STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Dr Alice Edwards, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, has said Bangladesh lacks an “A-status” National Human Rights Commission and a national preventive mechanism to combat custodial torture.

Dr Edwards said that violence in Bangladesh is deeply rooted, institutional, and long-standing.

She was speaking at a Consultation Meeting on Strengthening Prevention and Accountability Frameworks for Torture in Bangladesh held at the Hotel Holiday Inn yesterday, organised by Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST), Association for the Prevention of Torture, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and Redress.

The special rapporteur is in Bangladesh for a week-long study visit.

She said Bangladesh has developed a strong “legal scaffolding”, but the rest is missing.

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