HRW calls for calm
Human Rights Watch has urged the government and the opposition to put an end to the ongoing political violence centring the 10th parliamentary election scheduled for January 5.
The BNP-led opposition alliance has held large-scale and often violent protests throughout the country for weeks, and security forces have at times responded with excessive force, said the New York-based rights organisation in a report published yesterday.
The report suggested that the ruling Awami League and opposition leaders act to prevent violence by their supporters, including against the security forces.
It urged the government to publicly order the security forces to follow the UN basic principles on the use of force and firearms.
“The leaders of the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) need to take urgent steps to avoid further deaths and abuses,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of the HRW.
“Pre-election violence has already cost too many lives in Bangladesh. Only responsible leadership can bring an end to this senseless loss of life.”
Credible reports suggest that at least 40 people, including bystanders, have been killed during protests, the report mentioned.
The security forces should respond to protests in accordance with international law enforcement standards, only using force when strictly necessary.
The Bangladeshi authorities are obligated to investigate violence by protesters and the unlawful use of force by security forces thoroughly and impartially, and to prosecute those responsible for carrying out or ordering such acts, the organisation said.
It observed that in the past, the government has taken no action even in cases of well-documented unlawful killings by the security forces during protests.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) yesterday to UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco called for urgent intervene to normalise the situation of Bangladesh for the sake of saving lives, livelihood, and liberties.
In an open letter to Taranco, the Executive Director of AHRC Bijo Francis narrating the violent situation said Bangladesh plunged into deep political and constitutional crisis.
The AHRC official said the UN must play a key role in holding a credible and transparent election in Bangladesh drawing upon its experiences in Kenya and other countries.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) yesterday called for urgent UN intervention to normalise the situation in Bangladesh for the sake of saving lives and liberties.
In an open letter to UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco, AHRC Executive Director Bijo Francis narrated the country’s violent situation, saying it has plunged into a deep political and constitutional crisis.
The AHRC official said the UN must play a key role in the holding of a credible and transparent election in Bangladesh drawing upon its experiences in Kenya and other countries.
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