A/HRC/55/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its forty-fourth session from 6 to 17 November 2023. The review of Bangladesh was held at the 11th meeting, on 13 November 2023. The delegation of Bangladesh was headed by the Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Anisul Huq. At its 16th meeting, held on 15 November 2023, the Working Group adopted the report on Bangladesh. 2. On 11 January 2023, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Bangladesh: Cuba, Pakistan and Romania. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Bangladesh: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a);1 (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b); 2 (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c). 3 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Canada, Germany, Liechtenstein, Panama, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay was transmitted to Bangladesh through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of Bangladesh noted that Bangladesh placed great importance on the universal periodic review mechanism, a unique peer review process for global protection and promotion of human rights. Despite the marking that year of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, violations of human rights persisted, causing deprivation, discrimination and injustice among vulnerable segments of the population globally, including, shamefully, even children. 6. In August 2017, recalling its own suffering during its Liberation War, Bangladesh – led by the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wazed – had opened its borders to the Rohingya. More than 1.2 million Rohingya were now in temporary shelter in Bangladesh, with more than 30,000 newborns every year. It was frustrating for both the Rohingya and host communities that even after six long years, not a single Rohingya was able to return to Myanmar. The Government of Bangladesh demanded their safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation to Myanmar. Bangladesh emphasized that it alone could not solve the crisis that Myanmar had imposed upon the Rohingya. 7. Efforts to enhance economic growth included key infrastructure projects: for example, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge; the Dhaka Metro Rail service, the first such service in Bangladesh; and the 3.2-kilometre Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River, the first of its kind in South Asia. Several other projects were currently being implemented. 1 2 3 2 A/HRC/WG.6/44/BGD/1. A/HRC/WG.6/44/BGD/2. A/HRC/WG.6/44/BGD/3. GE.23-24573