Status of international human rights law within the domestic jurisdiction : the context of Bangladesh

Abstract

In this age of globalization no country can deny its obligations under international human rights law. Therefore, international human rights law has had an ever-growing impact on domestic legal systems throughout the world. Bangladesh, situated in South Asia, has acceded to or ratified almost all the major human rights instruments in force. But the status of international human rights law regarding its implementation and application within the domestic jurisdiction of Bangladesh is yet to be fully explored. The objective of the present article is therefore, to survey the issues surrounding the legal system of Bangladesh concerning the implementation and application of international human rights law in Bangladesh. To this end, the present paper will examine the status of international law, including human rights law, under the Constitution of Bangladesh and then proceed to examine the attitude of the Judiciary of Bangladesh. It will also dwell upon the obstacles encountered while implementing international human rights law and finally suggest a number of steps to ensure effective application of international human rights law in Bangladesh.