United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has expressed deep concern over increased number of killings of freethinkers, religious minorities and LGBT activists in Bangladesh.
Noting the recent police arrests, he called for bringing the perpetrators to justice fully respecting their human rights.   
“I am very concerned about the dramatically increased number of brutal murders in Bangladesh that target freethinkers, liberals, religious minorities and LGBT activists,” Zeid said in his opening speech to the 32nd session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.
“I note recent reports of police arrests, and I urge that investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators of these vicious crimes be made a priority, with full respect for human rights,” he said.
“I also urge all government officials and political and religious leaders to unequivocally condemn these attacks on freedom, and to do more to protect affected groups,” he added in his speech forwarded by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In his speech, the UN Human Rights chief shed a light on "preventable calamities" and worrying trends in human rights around the world, including detailed concerns about the situation in more than 50 countries
“Clampdowns on public freedoms, and crackdowns on civil society activists and human rights defenders, are hacking away at the forces which uphold the healthy functioning of societies. Judicial institutions which act as checks on executive power are being dismantled. Towering inequalities are hollowing out the sense that there are common goods,” he said.
“I urge every state to fully comply with international human right norms and implement the recommendations of the human rights mechanisms and of my office,” he added.
“All political detainees should be released, and reforms undertaken to ensure fair trials and an impartial and effective administration of justice. Independent national institutions and civil society organisations must be free to raise their voice,” said Zeid.
“Freedoms of expression, assembly and association must be respected and wherever people are jailed for exercising these rights – and there are many – I urge the authorities to release them with immediate effect,” he said.
“The actions of the police, security forces and all other agents of the State must be in line with relevant human rights obligations and minimum standards,” he said.
On migration crisis in Europe, the UN rights chief said, “It is entirely possible to create well-functioning migration governance systems, even for large numbers of people, with fair and effective determination of individual protection needs.”
“If European governments can remove hysteria and panic from the equation – and if all contribute to a solution – I am confident that they will be able to achieve this,” he said.