UN and US express concern over recent wave of violence in Bangladesh protests

HRW denounces “abuses” by security forces after the death of more than 160 people

Jul 23. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United Nations and the United States government expressed concern on Monday over the recent wave of violence that has erupted during protests in Bangladesh against the approval of the controversial quota system for public employment, which has resulted in more than a hundred deaths in the last week and has led to the suspension of the measure.

“We condemn all recent acts of violence in Bangladesh and reiterate our unwavering support for peaceful assembly. We also remain deeply concerned by reports of continued telecommunications disruptions across the country, limiting the ability of people in Bangladesh, including U.S. citizens, to access critical information,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press briefing.

In this regard, the Bangladeshi government has been urged to restore Internet services and revoke orders to shoot protesters.

For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres remains “deeply concerned” by such actions, and has expressed his hope that the country’s Supreme Court’s decision to revoke the reform will contribute to “creating an environment conducive to dialogue.”

“(Guterres) calls on all parties to avoid violence and to negotiate in good faith, with a view to resolving all existing disagreements. We would also like to add that we urge the authorities to ensure the protection and safety of all protesters and to create an environment in which the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly can be freely exercised,” added the spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, at a press conference.

Finally, he reported on “disturbing reports” that UN vehicles may have been used during protests, and recalled that countries that contribute troops and police forces to the United Nations must wear a UN insignia, and that they can only use such equipment for tasks assigned as part of a peacekeeping mission or a political mission of the organization.

HRW DENUNCES ABUSES BY SECURITY FORCES

Meanwhile, the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) has denounced abuses by Bangladeshi security forces following the death of more than 160 protesters during protests in which the authorities have imposed curfews and cut off Internet services.

“Bangladesh has long been troubled by unbridled abuses by security forces against anyone opposing (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina’s government, and we are witnessing the same playbook being used again, this time to target unarmed student protesters,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at HRW.

In this regard, she urged “influential” governments to pressure the Prime Minister to “stop brutalizing students and other protesters.”

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has suspended the reinstatement of the country’s old quota system, which stipulated that 30 percent of civil service jobs were reserved for descendants of fighters from Pakistan’s war of independence, a decision critics, including student organisations, have said was discriminatory and favourable to supporters of the ruling Awami League.

The Supreme Court’s decision stipulates that 93 percent of the posts will be decided on the merit of the candidates in the competitions, which could calm the mood after protests that have challenged the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who imposed a curfew throughout the country on Saturday in response to the protests.