Controversial elections in Bangladesh | The UN calls for a strengthening of democracy

(Geneva) The High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday implored the authorities of Bangladesh to strengthen “the foundations of democracy” in the country in the wake of a very controversial election boycotted by the opposition.

“I implore the government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the human rights of all Bangladeshis are fully taken into account and to strengthen the foundations of a truly inclusive democracy in the country,” Volker Türk said in a press release published in Geneva, denouncing the repression against the opposition which preceded the election.

“In the months leading up to the vote, thousands of opposition supporters were arbitrarily detained or subjected to intimidation,” Türk recalled.

Around 25,000 opposition members have been arrested, including key party leaders, since October 28, the UN human rights chief said.

According to Mr. Türk, at least ten opposition supporters “are believed to have died — or been killed — in detention over the past two months. »

Many human rights defenders were forced into hiding, and some fled the country, while dozens of suspected cases of enforced disappearances were reported, mostly in November, he recalled.

“These incidents must be independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice in fair and transparent trials,” demanded Mr. Türk.

“The violations and irregularities that occurred during the campaign and on the day of the election should also be the subject of in-depth investigations,” the High Commissioner further requested, recalling that democracy had been won hard in Bangladesh and “it cannot must not become a simple facade. »

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won a fifth term as her party won more than three-quarters of the seats in Parliament, the electoral commission announced on Monday.

Under the direction of M.^me Hasina, the country once plagued by extreme poverty, has seen accelerated growth. But his government has also been accused of systematic human rights violations and ruthless repression of the opposition.

M^me Hasina affirmed that these legislative elections had been “free and fair”, in a first reaction after the vote.