UN on unaltered position about BD situation

M Mushfiqul Fazal from New York, May 26 (Just News): Repeating the concern on democracy, polls, violence and human rights violation in Bangladesh, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN, said that, I don't have anything new on Bangladesh to add to what we've said on this last week.  Our basic concerns still apply.

Deputy Spokesman made this remark on a reply to this reporter in United Nation’s daily briefing on Tuesday.

About the arrest of senior editor Shafik Rehman and media freedom of Bangladesh  Farhan Haq said, we have our regular concerns about the freedom of all media in all countries and those apply in this case.  We believe that all media need to be able to go about their work without hindrance or fear of hindrance.

Below question-answer script of Bangladesh issue in the briefing:

Deputy Spokesman:  Yes, Mushfiqul Fazal?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  People of Bangladesh… on Bangladesh, people of Bangladesh are very frustrated and the civil society and the international community as well.  An unelected government is in power.  The local government election is going on with the participation of the opposition, union council election.  But at least… phase by phase is going on.  At least 90 people killed, and it is widely [inaudible] by the government activists.  So how you are observing the situation and what is the stand of the UN in this situation?

Deputy Spokesman:  I don't have anything new on Bangladesh to add to what we've said on this last week.  Our basic concerns still apply. Yes Mushfiq?

Question:  Yeah, thank you, Farhan.  82 years old senior editor of Bangladesh now in prison and his physical condition is very bad.  The Amnesty International experts, they are concerned about his physical condition, and his family also scared about his physical condition.  So would you like to add anything?

Deputy Spokesman:  As you know, we have our regular concerns about the freedom of all media in all countries and those apply in this case.  We believe that all media need to be able to go about their work without hindrance or fear of hindrance.

(Just News/gys/1540hr)