, March 16 -- State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday reiterated the government's commitment to protecting human rights, saying the country witnessed repeated violations over the past 17 years.

"We have seen how human rights were repeatedly violated in different sectors during the past 17 years," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The State Minister said the Bangladesh BNP has formed a 'humane government' and reaffirmed its pledge to safeguard human rights.

"BNP worked in the past to protect and strengthen human rights. The government will continue efforts to reinforce those protections in the future," she said when asked about a letter sent by several international human rights organisations ...