Bangladesh urged to ratify the Rome Statute

THE COALITION for the International Criminal Court and its members are calling on Bangladesh to take all necessary steps to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC as soon as possible. Bangladesh actively took part in the 1998 United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court held in Rome. In 1999, the Government of Bangladesh signed the Statute of the ICC, the first country in South Asia to have signed the treaty.

Asia remains as an underrepresented region at the ICC, with only Afghanistan, Mongolia, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Tajikistan, Republic of Korea, and Japan as States Parties to the Treaty. Having Bangladesh join this new system of international justice will grant the region a stronger voice and a more meaningful role in making this historic institution- the first permanent, independent court capable of investigating and bringing to justice individuals who commit war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide- a truly effective mechanism for the protection of human rights and the rule of law.

The month of August target country for Coalition for the International Criminal Court ongoing Universal Ratification Campaign is Bangladesh. The Universal Ratification Campaign is a worldwide effort to promote universal acceptance of the International Criminal Court. Actions are needed to promote awareness of the International Criminal Court; increase media coverage; urge governments to ratify or accede to the Rome Statute; and adopt effective implementing legislation and ratify the ICC Agreement on Privileges and Immunities.

Greater support for the International Criminal Court in the Asian region is needed in order to increase the region’s commitment to the fight against impunity. We ask you to visit our ratification campaign page where you can send a letter to the President of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman.

Other Related Actions to Support the Campaign
There are a number of other ways to support the ratification campaign in Bangladesh:
1. Modify a copy of the letter available on the CICC ratification campaign pages noted above and send it to the Embassy of Bangladesh in your country.
2. Join the ICC-Asia listserv, which sends periodic updates about the International Criminal Court as it relates to the Asia/Pacific region, by e-mailing the Coalition Secretariat’s Asia/Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean Outreach Liaison Michelle Reyes at reyes@iccnow.org, or send a message to icc-info-asia@yahoogroups.com
3. Contact Anaga Dalal at dalal@iccnow.org at the CICC for a model press release that you can use to raise awareness about the Universal Ratification Campaign in your country.
4. Contact Michelle Reyes at the Coalition’s Secretariat office in New York (reyes@iccnow.org) as well as Evelyn Serrano, Asia Coordinator (serrano@iccnow.org) to inform us of any actions you take, or to discuss initiatives. You can also raise awareness of this campaign by sending this email to other organizations in your country.

This CICC ratification campaign page on Bangladesh is accessible at:
http://www.iccnow.org/?mod=

Please do not hesitate to contact the CICC if you have further questions or need more information.

Sincerely,

Brigitte Suhr/Director of Regional Programs

suhr@iccnow.org
http://www.iccnow.org/

Take Action Now!
Write a letter to the President to encourage him to ratify the Rome Statute as soon as possible!

You might like to use the following letter as a guide. Please be sure to “cc” all contacts below when sending your letters.

Send your letter to:

Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman
Honorable President
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Banga Bhaban
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ms. Sheikh Hasina
Honorable Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Old Sangsad Bhaban
Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh
Tel:+880 2 8151157 +880 2 8151157 (PS-I to PM), 8155700, 8111599 (Parliament)
Email: info@pmo.gov.bd

Mr. Justice M. M. Ruhul Amin
Honorable Chief Justice of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Premises
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 9565058

Barrister Shafiq Ahmed
Honorable Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat
Building: 4 (7th Floor)
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2 7160577 +880 2 7160577, 9550016, 7164693
Fax: +880 2 7168557
Email: info@minlaw.gov.bd

Dr. Dipu Moni
Honorable Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Segun Bagicha
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2 9562852 +880 2 9562852, 9562954
Fax: +880 2 9562188
Email: dirfe@mofa.gov.bd

Mr. Mahbubey Alam
Honorable Attorney General for Bangladesh
Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Premises
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2 9562868 +880 2 9562868
Fax: +880 2 95616568
Email: adv_mahbubeby@yahoo.com