Wednesday’s Clash: US envoy, UN, Amnesty voice concerns

US Ambassador Peter Haas, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly Clement Voule, and Amnesty International yesterday expressed concern over political violence in Dhaka on Wednesday.

In a statement yesterday, Haas also called on everyone to respect the rule of law and to refrain from violence, harassment, and intimidation.

"We encourage government authorities to investigate these reports of violence and to protect the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly," Haas added.

UN Special Rapporteur Voule yesterday said Bangladesh must guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and refrain from using excessive force against protesters.

In a tweet yesterday, he said he has been following events in Bangladesh closely "after concerning reports of attacks and lethal force against peaceful protests since July 2022, causing deaths". He said he previously raised concerns with Bangladesh in a communication in 2021, following similar reports of lethal use of force by law enforcement.

On Wednesday, one man was killed and over 50 others, including four journalists, were injured as BNP activists and police clashed in the capital's Nayapaltan.

Yamini Mishra, Amnesty's regional director for South Asia, said, "This incident shows that the Bangladesh authorities have very little regard for the sanctity of human life and sends a chilling message that those who dare to exercise their human rights will face dire consequences."

Authorities must put an end to excessive use of force when responding to large-scale demonstrations and only respond in a manner that is consistent with international standards, Mishra said.