The government should not consider any peaceful assembly as a threat to the state, UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai said yesterday.
He said protests should be staged peacefully. Any unexpected incident during an agitation should not be categorically considered as violent and threat.
The remarks came at a discussion on freedom of assembly and association jointly organised by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) and FORUM-ASIA in the city’s Chhayanaut auditorium.
Kiai regretted that he had to come to Bangladesh on an academic visit for not getting permission for an official one.
Speaking on police action during any movement, he said: “The job of the police is to serve the people, not to work for the authorities or the government.
“We often see in most countries that the pro-government protests are never obstructed but agitations of the opposition parties are. So the issue should not be the agitations but how human rights of countrymen can be protected by any government.”
He also alleged that although the government permits overseas funding and international investments in business, it restricts the flow of foreign funds for human rights organisations or any rights-based activities.
Quoting late Nelson Mandela, he said: “Violence begets violence. A peaceful assembly may take more time but it is more sustainable and effective.”
ASK Executive Director Sultana Kamal and South and East Asia Programme Manager of FORUM-ASIA John Liu were present.