Following many more protestor deaths over the weekend, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk declared on Sunday that the horrifying violence in Bangladesh has to halt.
The attack on a police station in the Sirajganj district also claimed the lives of at least 13 police officials.
The UN rights head also voiced concern in a media release about the potential for more casualties and damage related to the students’ declared “March to Dhaka.”
“I’m really concerned that there will be more casualties and more damage since there is going to be a large-scale march through Dhaka tomorrow, and the ruling party’s youth wing has asked for the demonstrators to be put down.
I make a strong plea to the security services and the political establishment to uphold their duties in defending the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression as well as the right to life.
According to Volker Türk, it is imperative that anyone who violate human rights be held accountable, even those in positions of leadership and superiority.
“It is imperative that the global community communicates that impunity will not be allowed during this critical period,” he continued.
The head of UN human rights demanded that the government stop persecuting people who are peacefully taking part in the protest movement, free those who have been unlawfully detained, restore full access to the Internet, and establish conducive conditions for constructive discourse.
He said, “There must be an immediate end to the ongoing attempt to stifle popular discontent, including the excessive use of force, the purposeful dissemination of false information, and the incitement of violence.”
