The UN human rights chief on Monday called on the newly elected Government of Bangladesh to take steps to renew the country's commitment to democracy and human rights.
High Commissioner Volker Türk voiced his concern that Sunday's poll which saw Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secure a fifth term in office, was "marred by violence and repression of opposition candidates and supporters", according to a press release from rights office OHCHR.
"In the months leading up to the vote, thousands of opposition supporters have been detained arbitrarily or subjected to intimidation. Such tactics are not conducive to a truly genuine process," said Mr. Türk.
He implored the Government "to take the necessary steps to ensure that the human rights of all Bangladeshis are fully taken into account, and to strengthen the underpinnings of a truly inclusive democracy in the country."
Arrest, threats, disappearances
OHCHR said that according to reports, law enforcement officials used methods such as arrests, threats, enforced disappearances, blackmailing and surveillance as intimidation tactics ahead the ballot, which was boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Acts of political violence, including arson attacks allegedly committed by opposition groups, have also been reported.
Around 25,000 opposition supporters have been arrested, including key party leaders, since 28 October, said OHCHR. At least 10 opposition supporters reportedly died - or were killed - in custody in the last two months, raising serious concerns about possible torture or harsh conditions of detention, the High Commissioner said.
Many human rights defenders have been forced to go into hiding, and some have fled the country, while dozens of suspected enforced disappearance cases have been reported, mostly in November.
'Future of all Bangladeshis is at stake'
"These incidents must be independently investigated, and those responsible must be brought to justice in fair and transparent trials," Mr. Türk said. "Violations and irregularities during the campaign and on election day itself should also be thoroughly and effectively investigated."
"Democracy was hard won in Bangladesh and must not become cosmetic," said the High Commissioner. "Bangladesh has been a role model of development, and I fervently hope this will translate into the political and institutional spheres too. The future of all Bangladeshis is at stake."
Rights experts demand accountability for sexual torture victims of Hamas
Top rights experts on Monday demanded prompt investigations and accountability for victims of sexual torture in the 7 October Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel.
Some 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals were killed in the surprise attacks across 22 villages and thousands more injured. An estimated 240 adults, children and infants were also taken hostage by militants from Hamas and other Palestinian extremist groups.
In a statement on Monday the rights experts - who are not UN staff and who report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva - also called for justice relating to other grave crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since the war in Gaza began - a likely reference to spiking violence in the West Bank including East Jerusalem that has left more than 300 Palestinians dead since 7 October.
"Investigators must be given the necessary resources, support and access required" to explore all alleged crimes," the experts said, as they called on Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto authorities in Gaza to cooperate fully with any probes.
Plastic pollution: UN atomic agency embarks on Antarctic study
To the Antarctic now, where the UN atomic energy agency is using its nuclear knowhow to explore solutions to the global problem of plastic pollution.
In cooperation with Argentina, a small team from the International Atomic Energy Agency is deploying for one month to assess the impact of microplastics in the once pristine Antarctic environment.
The researchers' plan is to investigate levels of microplastic in seawater, lakes, sediments, sand, discharge water and animals of the Antarctic ecosystem, near the Argentine Carlini scientific research station.
Plastic patrol
As part of the UN agency's NUTEC initiative, 22 Antarctic sites will be monitored for microplastic pollution using radiation technology which has many uses including industrial recycling.
The process works by making use of gamma and electron beams to transform or recycle plastic waste into other products, such as construction materials.
According to the UN atomic energy agency, approximately 70 per cent of all plastics produced in the world are now waste material and only nine per cent of them have been recycled so far.
