A/HRC/24/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its sixteenth session from 22 April to 3 May 2013. The review of Bangladesh was held at the 11th meeting, on 29 April 2013. The delegation of Bangladesh was headed by Her Excellency Dr. Dipu Moni, Minister for Foreign Affairs. At its 17th meeting, held on 02 May 2013, the Working Group adopted the report on Bangladesh. 2. On 14 January 2013, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (Troika) to facilitate the review of Bangladesh: Czech Republic, Ethiopia and Pakistan. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Bangladesh: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/BGD/1); (b) A compilation prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/BGD/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/16/BGD/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Bangladesh through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Dipu Moni, MP, started her presentation by expressing profound sadness at heavy loss of lives at collapse of a building in Bangladesh. 6. She said that the Grand Alliance Government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina focused on building a robust normative and institutional framework during the last four years to ensure that all citizens enjoyed all human rights as guaranteed in the Constitution. She highlighted the 15th Amendment to the Constitution that restored the Fundamental Principles of State Policy for building a democratic, secular and socially just and inclusive Bangladesh. She underlined the measures taken to enhance the independence and effectiveness of the National Election Commission to hold free, fair and impartial national elections. The Foreign Minister informed that in the last four years the Parliament enacted 196 legislations, related to human rights one way or other, and ensured the function of its Standing Committees as effective bipartisan watchdogs. She also enumerated the steps taken to ensure the independence of judiciary and enhance the functional independence, effectiveness and credibility of the National Human Rights Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and Information Commission. 7. The Foreign Minister reaffirmed her Government’s unequivocal stand on “zero tolerance” against human rights violation by the law enforcement agencies as well as on their impunity. She said that any incident of death during exchange of fire between law 3