General view of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council during the presentation of report by the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, on March 13, 2018 in Geneva AFP

Bangladesh will serve as the UN rights body member for the 2019-21 tenure

Bangladesh has been elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the next three years in an election that took place in New York on Friday.

Bangladesh bagged 178 votes in the election where the members of the UN General Assembly voted, an official told UNB.

He said Bangladesh will serve as the UN rights body member for the 2019-21 tenure.

“It is an important milestone for the country,” the official told UNB sharing the news.

Last time, Bangladesh served the UNHRC as a member from 2015 till 2017.

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.

It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.

The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly.

The Human Rights Council replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.