Dhaka, Jun 14 (Just News): The United States on Wednesday urged the government of Bangladesh to fully meet its human rights obligations while conducting its drive against drugs.
"While illegal drugs are a scourge across the world, Bangladesh should ensure its law enforcement respect human rights and that their conduct is consistent with international standards and Bangladesh's own constitution, which includes a presumption of innocence and the right to due process," said US Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert.
In a press statement, Nauert said they are concerned by reports that at least 147 people have been killed and 21,000 arrested since early May by Bangladeshi security forces in a nationwide counter-narcotics campaign, UNB reports.
"We urge Bangladesh to conduct thorough and transparent investigations into all credible reports of extrajudicial killings," the press statement added.