Expatriate Bangladeshis, primarily supporters of the Awami League, gathered in front of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva to protest against human rights abuses in Bangladesh.
Members of the Bangladeshi diaspora across Europe, along with leaders and activists from the All European unit of the Awami League, voiced their concerns over the lack of accountability for extrajudicial killings, targeted violence against political dissenters, and the rise in communal violence.
The protesters held Dr Yunus accountable for fostering division in the name of reform. They highlighted the alarming trend of false murder charges against thousands associated with the Awami League, which have led to arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings.
The participants described these actions as significant injustices, particularly against those affected during the turmoil of July and August, framing the government’s legal actions as political persecution.
Addressing the government’s claim of 44 police deaths amid recent violence, they referenced media reports indicating that hundreds of officers had been killed and that over 450 police stations had been attacked.
They criticized the lack of investigations into these incidents, suggesting a cover-up that obscured the true culprits.
The protesters condemned coordinated attacks on media outlets in Dhaka and the harassment of journalists, asserting that these actions are part of a broader effort to silence dissent.
They emphasized the increase in violence against Awami League activists since August 5, arguing that government inaction had emboldened attackers to target individuals based on their political beliefs, leading to further looting and property destruction.
Nazrul Islam, president of the All European Awami League, said that over two million families connected to the party are affected by the rise in targeted attacks, which escalated following Dr Yunus’s ascension to power.
They called for investigations into coordinated assaults on prisons that resulted in the escape of nearly 900 inmates, including dangerous criminals, and raised concerns about the alarming use of the ISIS flag among students advocating for a caliphate.
Nazrul attributed the violence against Awami League supporters to the BNP, Jamaat, and other militant groups, claiming that the regime's inaction over the past two months has unleashed a wave of violence against them.
Protesters reported receiving daily accounts of attacks in Bangladesh, saying that many Awami League leaders and activists have gone into hiding.
They described a situation where BNP leaders and other dominant groups were extorting money from Awami League members to avoid violence, illustrating ongoing human rights abuses.
In conclusion, they submitted a memorandum to an official representing Volker Türk, the United Nations high commissioner for Human Rights, detailing the oppressive measures against the Awami League and targeted attacks on minorities.
