A/HRC/51/47 reported intimidation may have been directed against relatives and human rights defenders for their co-operation with United Nations entities, including the WGEID (BGD 2/2022). 5. On 14 March 2022, special procedures mandate holders publicly called5 on authorities to immediately cease reprisals against human rights defenders and relatives of forcibly disappeared persons for their activism and co-operation with international human rights bodies and United Nations mechanisms. They expressed concern that the reported reprisals may have a chilling effect and deter others from reporting on issues of public interest, including human rights, and from cooperating with the United Nations, its representatives, and mechanisms. 6. On 12 May 2022, the Government responded 6 to mandate holders stating its commitment to ensuring that any individual reportedly missing or unaccounted for be rescued or traced with the cooperation of their families and friends. It noted that in order to trace the missing persons, the Government needed to have further information on alleged disappeared persons since relevant authorities did not have records of many of the 76 cases. The Government informed that it had issued letters with requests for information to the relatives and that its efforts are not to silence families of alleged victims, but rather to offer them a space for legal protection. 7. Several United Nations actors, including United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,7 the High Commissioner for Human Rights8 and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar 9 condemned the killing on 29 September 2021 of Mr. Mohib Ullah, a Rohingya human rights defender and refugee in Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar. Mr. Ullah was gunned down by unidentified individuals following his increased international advocacy on the human rights situation of the Rohingya, including with United Nations entities and at the Human Rights Council. On 18 November 2021, a group of mandate holders addressed the killing Mr. Ullah and the subsequent death of at least six other Rohingya refugees (BGD 5/2021). Following his death, activists linked to Mr. Ullah and his relatives raised protection concerns and reported that a climate of fear had mounted in the camps (BGD 5/2021). 8. On 3 January 2022, the Government responded to mandate holders10 stating that law enforcement agencies had not been aware of any threats to Mr. Ullah. Immediately after his killing, a murder case was filed and a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation conducted and law enforcement arrested twelve 12 suspects. The Government informed that the security of all the family members of Mr. Mohib Ullah had been ensured. According to information received by OHCHR, the killing of Mr. Ullah had a chilling effect on human rights activists in the camps, many of whom went into hiding or fled the camps, inhibiting cooperation with the UN and leading to self-censorship. 9. On 22 July 2022 the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report underlining its strong commitment and efforts in realizing human rights and it active cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms(See annex II). It also provided information on the outcomes of the police investigation in the murder of Mr. Mohib Ullah and the police protection granted to his family. 5 6 7 8 9 10 https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/un-experts-urge-bangladesh-end-reprisals-againsthuman-rights-defenders-and. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36948. https://www.unhcr.org/asia/news/press/2021/9/61559c984/unhcr-condemns-killing-of-rohingyarefugee-leader.html. https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/10/bachelet-shocked-killing-rohingya-human-rights-defender. A/HRC/49/76 AUV, paras. 11–15. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36723. 19