With national elections scheduled for January 5, violence by the opposition protesters and excessive force by the state security forces need to end in Bangladesh, observes the New York-based Human Rights Watch. The opposition party alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has held large-scale and often violent protests throughout the country for weeks, and security forces have at times responded with excessive force, the watchdog says in a statement released Wednesday.
“With election sentiments at the bursting point, Bangladeshi security forces need to overcome their long history of using unlawful force against opposition protesters and respond in a way that is professional and non-partisan,” says Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The ruling Awami League should remember the mistreatment suffered by its supporters when they were in the opposition and ensure that law enforcement agencies act within the law,” he adds.
Political party and protest leaders should act to prevent violence by their supporters, including against the security forces, says the press release, pointing out that the security forces should respond to protests in accordance with international law enforcement standards, only using force when strictly necessary.
Quoting independent reporters, the statement says, “Protesters have been responsible for the majority of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations. There are credible reports that bombs hurled by protesters injured at least four children. A number of security force personnel have been injured, and several police and a member of the Border Guards Bangladesh have been killed.”
Mentioning different recent incidents including setting fire on a bus at Shahbagh, train derailment in Gaibandha, the press statement mentions that the Bangladeshi authorities are obligated to investigate violence by protesters and the unlawful use of force by security forces thoroughly and impartially, and to prosecute those responsible for carrying out or ordering such acts.
“Opposition leaders not only shouldn’t be inciting violence, but they have a responsibility to do all they can to keep their protests peaceful,” Adams observes.
“When their members commit crimes, political leaders need to cooperate with the authorities to ensure those responsible are promptly apprehended,” he says.
The government should publicly order the security forces to follow the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which state that security forces shall “apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms,” notes the statement.
“The leaders of the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party need to take urgent steps to avoid further deaths and abuses,” Adams says, adding, “Pre-election violence has already cost too many lives in Bangladesh. Only responsible leadership can bring an end to this senseless loss of life.”
-With The Independent input
