Expressing concerns over the prevailing violent political situation in Bangladesh, the UN Human Rights Commission yesterday called for restraint by all political parties and an end to violence immediately.
The UN rights body also called on the authorities to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigation into all killings committed.
“The deepening political violence in Bangladesh, resulting from the failure by the two major political parties to resolve their differences peacefully, is very disturbing,” said the UNHRC in a statement issued by Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN high commissioner for human rights.
“We are concerned about the potential for the violence, which has already led to deaths, injury and disruption, to spiral, as seen in the run up to the 2014 elections.
“We also call on the authorities to ensure the prompt, impartial and effective investigation of all killings committed – irrespective of whether they were committed by State or non-State actors,” the statement said.
“The Government should also ensure that the arrest and detention of key opposition leaders by law enforcement agencies is not arbitrary,” it said.
The spokesperson also said the government should ensure that all measures taken to restore law and order are conducted in line with the parameters set by international human rights law, including respect for the freedoms of peaceful assembly, movement and speech.
The statement comes after 11 days of the countrywide rail, road and waterways blockade after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had been barred from coming out from her office to join a rally.
The UNHRC statement said: “Particularly disturbing is the rampant use of arson attacks on vehicles. A crowded public bus was set on fire on Tuesday, burning to death four people, including one child. The same day, a senior BNP advisor was shot at and his car set on fire. Yesterday, another person was killed when a bus was reportedly set ablaze in Kaliakoir, about 50 kilometres north of Dhaka.”
