The prolonged single-party rule had steadily politicised Bangladesh state institutions that permeated the country entire security sector as well, since authorities preferred recruitment and promotion there to be based on perceived political loyalty instead of professionalism, the UN rights office report said.
"Fifteen years of rule by a single political party coincided with a steadily increasing politicization of state institutions that has permeated the entire security sector," read the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) fact finding report.
The OHCHR said "many police officers were recruited and promoted not on the grounds of professionalism, integrity and merit, but based on their perceived loyalty to, or affiliation with, the Awami League and the ruling Government it backed".
Bangladesh and India on Sunday recognised the challenges the two neighbours are facing in terms of bilateral relations and discussed the necessity to work together to address those.
On the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain met his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar in Muscat, Oman.
Both sides also said that a meeting at the level of Directors General of Border Guarding Forces of the two countries is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 18-20.
They hoped that various border-related issues would be discussed and resolved during the meeting, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Conversations focused on our bilateral relationship, as also on Bimstec," Jaishankar said after the meeting.
Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (BVORVMA), an organization of edible oil suppliers, has assured that the soybean oil crisis in the market will end in a short time.
The organization said in a statement on Sunday that considering the rising demand for edible oil in the market ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the organizations affiliated with the association are supplying more edible oil than usual.
Considering the amount of edible oil supplied and imported, there is no chance of a crisis. If there is a crisis due to the tendency of some traders to stock up, the price and supply during Ramadan is enough and there is no need to be panicked, according to a press release.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners to assist Bangladesh in making a successful example of river restoration .
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "River Restoration: Lessons for Bangladesh", held at Pani Bhaban in Dhaka on Sunday, she highlighted that even polluted rivers can be transformed into sources of drinking water, as seen in different countries.
She stressed the need for restoring entire river connection systems instead of focusing on isolated rivers, saying, “Chromium pollution from tanneries is a major challenge for the Buriganga River.”
She called for immediate, practical actions instead of drafting policies and plans and proposed a clear action plan, backed by ADB, utilising institutions like the National River Protection Commission, the River Research Institute, and the Institute of Water Modelling.