POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Nov 2, 2023 : The government of Bangladesh has protested the recent statement given by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) regarding the casualties caused by the violence surrounding the BNP’s general assembly program in Dhaka on October 28.
The statement will be revised in the light of reality, the government hopes. At the same time, the government also feels that it is necessary to collect and verify the correct information before publishing such statements.
On Wednesday (November 1), the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations sent a letter in this regard to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Some photographs and video footage of the October 28 violence have been attached to the letter.
The letter said the government was surprised by the violence by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the name of a one-point unconstitutional demand to hold the next elections under a non-partisan caretaker administration. On the request of BNP, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) allowed them to hold a rally in front of the party office on October 28 under certain conditions. However, BNP activists indulged in indiscriminate street violence, arson and attacks on persons and property.
It said the main targets of this violence have been non-political law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, innocent citizens, state institutions and government property. In numerous photos and video footage, a member of the police was brutally beaten to death—in broad daylight, on a wide public street, while dozens of other law enforcement agents were attacked and injured. Bus contactor was burnt alive.
The letter also said that buses, fire service trucks and other vehicles were set on fire, residences of the Chief Justice and other judges of the country’s highest court were vandalized. Police hospital premises and ambulances were set on fire and several police stations were vandalized, journalists and cameramen were attacked. Even in the face of such continuous atrocities by the BNP, the government and its law enforcement forces have shown great restraint and patience and exerted their best efforts to ensure law and order.
Stating that the BNP is spreading false information to mislead the international community and garner sympathy, the letter said, the nation was misled by the introduction of a fake adviser to the US President in a press conference at the BNP headquarters. BNP’s intention behind misleading the people and the international community is to disrupt the upcoming elections and the constitutional process. Unfortunately, the OHCHR may have been misled by the BNP’s disinformation campaign.
Optimistically, OHCHR is recognized as a global human rights institution. Its work must reflect the principles of objectivity, impartiality. Therefore, it is necessary to collect and verify the correct information before publishing any statement. The Government of Bangladesh hopes to revise the statement made by OHCHR on October 31 in light of reality.
The letter further stated that the Election Commission (EC) is an independent constitutional body, stating that the government is committed to ensure the right of the people to vote at all costs and conduct a free, fair, credible and peaceful election. They are in regular dialogue with the registered political parties ahead of the next general elections. The EC attaches great importance to monitoring the election process to ensure transparency. In this regard, the EC has invited international election observers and foreign media to observe the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections of Bangladesh.
Earlier, the OHCHR in a statement published on its website last Tuesday called on the government to show maximum restraint in mitigating political tensions during the crisis in Bangladesh.
The statement called for upholding the human rights of all citizens of Bangladesh before, during and after the elections. It also blamed masked people for the October 28 incident. According to the United Nations, many of those wearing masks are pro-government.
Last Saturday (October 28) OHCHR issued a statement accusing the ruling Awami League supporters of the involvement of the main opposition party BNP in the conflict-violence incident in Dhaka.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday afternoon (November 1), Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen claims that there are informational gaps in the OHCHR statement.
He said many of the descriptions of the OHCHR are quite flawed. Real facts are excluded. There are gaps in their information. It is very unfortunate that there is a gap in the information of such institutions. We will draw their attention to that. And the mistakes in their descriptions, I will point them out by protesting.
The executive committee meeting of the country’s highest organization of journalists will be held at the National Press Club at 3 pm on the same day.
