Six international rights organisations, including the United States-based Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, have expressed concern about Bangladesh’s current human rights and civic space situations as the country heads towards the general election on January 7.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, they also urged an immediate halt to violence, repression, and intimidation targeting political opponents.
‘The undersigned organisations express our deep concern about Bangladesh’s current human rights situation and closure of civic space as the country heads toward national elections on 7 January 2024,’ said the joint statement made available on the website of the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights.
Since late October 2023, following the rallies and demonstrations co-organised by the political opposition, the ruling Awami League has resorted to violence to suppress protests and political dissent, it mentioned.
The signatories to the statement are Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, Capital Punishment Justice Project, United Against Torture Consortium, Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances and Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network.
‘We stand with the people of Bangladesh as they strive for a fair, democratic, and peaceful society. We strongly urge an immediate halt to the violence, repression, and intimidation targeting political opponents,’ the statement said.
They alleged that the crackdown had resulted in 17 people being killed, including a journalist, and 8,249 opposition leaders being injured.
‘The indiscriminate and excessive use of tear gas, sticks, batons, rubber bullets, and similar instruments by law enforcement authorities raises serious concerns about the escalation of violence.
Immediate action is needed to address the abuse of police equipment,’ said the statement.
These cases further emphasise the urgent need for accountability and a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances leading to the violence and the killings, it added.
It said that the disproportionate use of such tools not only violates the fundamental rights of citizens but also exacerbates tensions, creating an environment that undermines dissent, peaceful assembly, and democratic dialogue.
The rights organisations called upon the security forces to urgently follow international human rights standards, including the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the United Nations Human Rights Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement.
There have also been consistent and credible reports of torture and illegal isolation of detainees in custody, the statement mentioned.
It urged the international community to closely monitor the situation and advocate for safeguarding fundamental rights in Bangladesh.
The rights bodies also alleged that the Awami League government was systematically using the judiciary to convict the key opposition leaders en masse, by prosecuting them in the extended hours in the evenings to disqualify the potential opposition candidates ahead of the January 7 election.
They urged all to immediately cease violence against protesters and ensure that the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, life, liberty, and personal integrity are respected and protected.
