UN calls for investigation into ‘crackdown on protesters’ in Bangladesh

The UN on Thursday, July 25, called on Bangladesh to “urgently disclose all details of the repression of the protests” recent, offering its support for the establishment of a “impartial, independent and transparent investigation” on alleged human rights violations. “We understand that many people have been victims of violent attacks by groups apparently affiliated with the government, and that no efforts have been made to protect them.”denounced the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in a statement seen by AFP.

In this second statement from the High Commissioner on the unrest that occurred last week in Bangladesh, Volker Türk calls on the government to restore “full access” to the internet “in order to enable everyone, including journalists and the media, to communicate freely and in compliance with international law”. He also asks the authorities to give “details of those killed, injured or detained”as well as a guarantee that the events will not be repeated and that there will be no reprisals against those who participated in the demonstrations.

Last week’s unrest, with clashes between students and security forces, left at least 193 people dead, including police officers, according to an AFP tally based on police and hospital reports in the South Asian country. A curfew imposed in response to the unrest was eased Thursday, with freedom of movement restored between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., but thousands of soldiers are still patrolling cities and an internet blackout remains in place across the country.

“Severe measures such as a general and deliberate shutdown of the internet for a prolonged period are contrary to international law”noted Volker Türk. Furthermore, he said, it may limit the ability to monitor the conduct of law enforcement, “thereby risking increasing the impunity of their actions”.