United Nations Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres has reiterated his call for all acts of violence to be investigated promptly, transparently, and impartially, and for those responsible to be held to account while the European Union high representative Josep Borrell has called for a thorough investigation.
The UN chief said that they had taken note of the statements by the Bangladesh authorities that UN-marked vehicles were no longer being deployed within the country.
The EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy in a statement on Tuesday said that he was deeply concerned by the killings of law enforcement officers, violence, torture, mass arrests and damage to property that have taken place.
鈥榃e remind and reiterate that UN troop- and police-contributing countries are to use UN insignia and equipment marked with the UN聽 insignia only when they are performing mandated tasks as UN peacekeepers in the context of their deployment within a UN peacekeeping operation,鈥� the United News of Bangladesh reported on Tuesday quoting St茅phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, as saying on Monday.
The spokesperson said that they would continue to raise their concerns about the situation in the country with the relevant authorities, both in Dhaka, and in New York, and they would expect Bangladesh to respect and uphold human rights, including as a top troop contributing country to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Giving an update on Bangladesh, he said that the Secretary-General remained deeply concerned about the situation in Bangladesh.
He noted reports of the resumption of student protests and reiterated his call for calm and restraint, Dujarric said.
The Secretary-General is concerned about reported mass arrests of thousands of young people and political opposition in connection with the current student movement, according to the UNB report.
鈥楬e underscores the importance of due process and the right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly,鈥� the spokesperson said.
The UN chief is also alarmed by emerging reports about the excessive use of force by security forces and credible evidence of human rights violations.
鈥業n the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Laos on 27 July, I conveyed to the representative of Bangladesh and former Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, MP, my grave concern by the announcement of a 鈥渟hoot on sight policy鈥� and unlawful killings perpetrated in recent days by the authorities in Bangladesh,鈥� Joseph Borrell said.
He said that these acts must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.
鈥楾here must be full accountability for the numerous instances of use of excessive and lethal force by the law enforcement authorities against protesters and others, including journalists and young children. The thousands arrested must receive due process,鈥� he said.
The EU, a political and economic union on 27 member states, would follow closely actions of the authorities in the context of this crisis and, with the fundamentals of EU-Bangladesh relations in mind, expect all human rights to be fully respected, according to the statement.
Reiterating their unwavering support for freedom of peaceful assembly, the United States has, meanwhile, called for a peaceful resolution to the current situation in Bangladesh.
鈥楽o as it relates to Bangladesh, both in public and private we continue to call for a lasting and peaceful resolution to the current situation, and we reiterate our unwavering support for the freedom of peaceful assembly,鈥� US Department of State principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a routine press briefing on Monday at his office in Washington.聽
He, however, said that they were aware of some restoration of telecommunications across Bangladesh, but were calling for a full and undisrupted public access to the internet and social media services.
About numerous members of the House of Representatives and senators expressing concern in solidarity with the student protest in Bangladesh, Patel said, 鈥楽o we鈥攚e of course support all efforts for those who want to peacefully protest.鈥�
