Borrell denounces to Bangladesh the deaths of protesters at the hands of the police during the protests

BRUSSELS, Jul 30 () –

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has conveyed to the authorities of Bangladesh this Tuesday his complaint of the “unlawful deaths” at the hands of the security forces in the country within the framework of the protests against the already suspended quota system for civil servants.

Borrell held talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN regional forum in Laos with the former foreign minister of Bangladesh and the country’s representative at the meeting, Abdul Moment. The head of European diplomacy has criticised the death of at least 147 people in the protests and denounced the policy of shooting at peaceful demonstrators, said a statement from the EU External Action Service.

He also expressed concern about the deaths of law enforcement officers, as well as the violence, torture and mass arrests recorded during the protests. “These acts must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible must be brought to justice. Accountability must be given for the numerous cases of excessive and lethal use of force by law enforcement against protesters and others, including journalists and young children,” Borrell said in the statement.

The Bangladeshi government has confirmed the deaths of at least 147 people during protests against the now-suspended quota system for civil servants, which sparked anger among student movements who considered it an act of discrimination.

The figure confirmed by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is roughly in line with the figures provided in recent days by national media amid a telecommunications blackout that was finally lifted on Sunday.

The protests against the quota system – which critics say gave 30 percent of places to descendants of fighters from Pakistan’s war of independence in a discriminatory decision – have been the most serious in the country’s recent history. Organisations such as Amnesty International have accused the security forces of practising a policy of repression against protesters.