Brussels, Belgium —A high-level meeting was held in Brussels with senior officials from the Human Rights Desk of the European External Action Service (EEAS), where deep concerns were expressed regarding the current human rights situation in Bangladesh. The discussion was arranged with the support of a Brussels-based policy think tank.
The European Union side was led by Mr. Ognyan Karastamatov, senior official at the EEAS Human Rights Desk, along with Ms. Lene Villadsen, South Asia representative at the EEAS. The delegation from the Hand in Hand Foundation was headed by its Secretary General, A F M Golam Zilani, and included Barrister Nizhum Mazumdar, community leader Lafit Shahid, Golam Mostafa, Saidul Karim Mazumdar, and Mr. Yakub Zientala.
During the meeting, the delegation highlighted a series of alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh. They raised concerns about minority persecution, politically motivated extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arrests of journalists, and detentions of opposition political leaders and student activists. They also underscored the shrinking civic space and increasing pressure on dissenting voices, human rights defenders, and independent media.
One of the key topics of the discussion was the delegation’s strong objection to the recent United Nations fact-finding report on Bangladesh’s human rights situation. The delegation submitted a formal rebuttal, arguing that several conclusions in the UN report lacked contextual depth and did not adequately reflect realities on the ground. They called for greater transparency in investigations, enhanced protection for vulnerable groups, and a more active role from the international community.
EU representatives noted the issues with seriousness and reiterated the European Union’s commitment to promoting human rights, democratic freedoms, and the rule of law in Bangladesh and across South Asia.
Following the meeting, the Hand in Hand Foundation stated that it would continue its consultations and advocacy efforts with international partners, diaspora representatives, and human rights organizations to push for meaningful reforms amid Bangladesh’s ongoing political and human rights challenges.
