The government has rejected a foreign recommendation to revise media laws.
The United States put forward the request at the Universal Periodic Review hearing held in Geneva last week.
Bangladesh after consulting with all stakeholders submitted to the UPR its national report for 2013-17 period in February and defended it May 14.
A senior official said, “Many countries have observations about our human rights situation and we are always ready to respond to their queries.”
In the UPR hearing Bangladesh accepted 167 recommendations and rejected 61 recommendations and reserved its decision on another 23.
The US recommendation said, “Revise media laws, in consultation with civil society, to decriminalize “defamation” and “hurting religious sentiment,” and limit proposed extended jail terms for these offences.”
Bangladesh also rejected a German recommendation which said, “Ensure that human rights activists and journalists can exercise their rights without fear, intimidation and harassment by redrafting the planned Digital Security Act, and repealing or amending all laws that violate the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.”
Several other countries proposed that Bangladesh should abolish death penalty and allow LGBT in the country but Dhaka rejected all such suggestions.
Another senior official said, “It is not possible for Bangladesh to abolish death penalty but we have a full proof system that the innocent would not be punished.”
According to government statistics, during 2013 to 2017 period lower courts handed down death penalty to 1119 persons but, High Court only upheld decisions for 130 persons while 17 persons were executed.
About LGBT, he said many countries did not accept it and Bangladesh society was not ready for it.
Bangladesh first submitted its UPR report in 2009.
In 2013, review hearing Bangladesh accepted 191 recommendations while refused five suggestions on death penalty and LGBT.