The government yesterday lodged a protest with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for blaming and criticising it over “the deepening violence” in the country.
“We have sent a letter to Geneva as we feel that the [OHCHR’s] press note sent out a wrong message about the prevailing situation,” a senior foreign ministry official told the Dhaka Tribune.
Protesting the OHCHR’s press note in its note yesterday, the government said BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir had carried out almost all arson and terror attacks in the country.
“[And so]...unduly implicating the law enforcement agencies and others, would only allow cover for such terrorist acts, and further instigate such violent means by the same actors.”
About the allegation of arbitrary arrest and detention of key opposition leaders by law enforcement agencies, the government responded that they had to press charges against them for their apparent involvement in violent and terrorist acts.
About the alleged confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the government said in the note: “It was on her own volition that she had decided to remain interned in her office, and always remains at liberty to move over to her residence.”