The Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has expressed deep concern over the violence in the ongoing protests in Bangladesh.
A statement to this effect was published on the UNHCR website on Tuesday (October 31).
It said, as Bangladesh moves towards elections, we want to say to all political leaders that such violence is unacceptable. We call on them to refrain from making statements or actions that could incite violence.
According to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, several people have been killed in the ongoing violence. The dead included policemen, pedestrians and opposition activists. On October 28, opposition protesters allegedly attacked the residence of the Chief Justice and some other judges. About 30 journalists were assaulted by protesters and masked men on motorcycles.
Meanwhile, it is known that the police retaliated in response to the protest of the opposition party. They also raided houses of opposition party leaders and activists across the country and arrested and detained hundreds of people, including family members of the leaders and activists.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the police to use force only when absolutely necessary. It is important to have caution behind such a decision, the statement said.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the government of Bangladesh to exercise maximum restraint at this critical time to curb political tensions and take steps to fully uphold human rights for all Bangladeshis before, during and after the elections.
