US Representative and Subcommittee Chairman Steve Chabot said the growing escalation of violence might cause a rise of extremism in Bangladesh and that it would have a negative impact on regional security.
“I stressed the need to curtail the growing violence which can only bring about further instability possibly the expansion of extremist groups,” he said.
Chabot made the statement while addressing a hearing titled “Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation on the Brink?” held at the House Rayburn Office Building in Washington on Wednesday (early hours of Thursday Bangladesh time). The US congressman asserted that Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were adamantly sticking to their positions about polls-time government.
“Both leaders were adamant in their positions. Sheikh Hasina insisted provisions are in place to conduct fair election. Madam Zia maintained that a fair election could not be held without a caretaker government in place to ensure transparency,” Chabot said at a Congressional hearing.
Chabot visited Bangladesh on a three-day trip early in November and met Hasina and Khaleda to discuss the entire political situation in the country.
“When I visited Bangladesh two weeks ago we arrived at the onset of three-day general strike. It is still uncertain whether or not the opposition BNP will boycott the election or not,” he said at the hearing.
Public Policy Scholar of Woodrow Wilson Center Ali Riaz, President of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies retired major general AMN Muniruzzaman and Asia Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch John Sifton were testified as witnesses.
Ali Riaz in his testimony said: “The international community should neither franchise its responsibilities to regional powers, nor should the regional powers be excluded from this international effort. In particular India’s valid security concerns must be addressed.”
AMN Muniruzzaman said political violence, weak governance, corruption, poverty and Islamic militancy have been vividly present in the socio-political domain of the country recently.
He said: “The level of political violence was very high in the past year for three main reasons: the opposition called protests against the dissolution of the election time Caretaker Government ; Jammat-e-Islami’s opposition to the verdicts of the war crimes trial, including its call for a fair trial; and orthodox Islamist protests against perceived apostles, atheist and defamers of Islam.”
Asia Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch John Sifton said: “Bangladesh security forces have a long track record of using excessive force against protestors, even targeting them intentionally—as well as arresting and abusing detainees.”
He said: “Human Rights Watch documented this year that Bangladeshi security forces frequently used excessive force in responding to street protests, including major violence between Islamist protestors and security forces in early May that killed approximately 50 people.”
He estimated that security forces have killed almost 150 protesters and injured at least 2,000 since February 2013.