The government has assured the diplomats about the investigation and trial of the deaths centring the quota reform movement.
“We have presented our position in front of the diplomats. We have informed them that the judicial inquiry commission has started working. The commission will investigate each incident fairly,” Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said on Thursday after briefing diplomats at the State Guesthouse Padma.
PM's Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan also joined the briefing organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Videos related to the violence were also shown to the diplomats.
"We have presented the latest information to them and shown videos. As we have reported, the RAB did not fire from the helicopter. Besides, I have highlighted the role of BGB and police during the movement. We have provided the video to them also,” the foreign secretary said.
He said that there were rumors going on in the country and abroad about the movement. “So, I gave them (diplomats) correct information.”
Diplomats from 22 countries including the United Kingdom, United States, China, Japan, Sweden, Qatar, Denmark, Switzerland, India, Russia, Canada, Australia, France, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, European Union, and the representatives from the United Nations attended the briefing.
The Foreign Secretary also briefed them about the inquiry process and said: “We are hopeful that the Commission will fairly, impartially and transparently investigate each incident to hold the responsible persons accountable and bring them to justice.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier said the United Nations and any country can send their experts for proper investigation of every incident of violence related to the quota reform movement.
“I want everything to be investigated. Because it needs to be found out what happened behind it and how these happened. I’ve appealed to the United Nations to send their experts. If any other country wants, they can send their experts too,” the prime minister said.
The foreign secretary said the government already responded to the 14 foreign missions who wrote to Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud recently.
“We have addressed their issues in the reply,” he said, adding that today the development partners wanted to know more about freedom of assembly, and wanted to know whether any force is being applied or anyone is arrested.
He told the diplomats that there was no problem when people were protesting peacefully. There were problems in places where the people tried to create disruptions going beyond the peaceful atmosphere.
In response to a question, the foreign secretary said foreigners have investments here. The internet was off. They have concerns about these.
“We have informed the foreigners that there is no obstacle to the peaceful assembly.”
The prime minister's Press Secretary said: "We are ready to talk about everything. We have shared information with diplomats. We will share it continuously.”
He also commented that “the quota movement has not affected inter-state relations with any country.”
The foreign minister earlier briefed the diplomats on July 21 to highlight the situation surrounding the quota reform.