Human Rights Watch has urged the interim government of Bangladesh to maintain fairness in law enforcement

An international human rights body, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has asked the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure that security forces function fairly and maintain law rule in addressing political violence.

Recently, citing a report by the United Nations, HRW in a statement on Wednesday highlighted the violation of serious human rights by law enforcement agencies, in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s post -unrest of the government in August 2024 was highlighted in August 2024. Exceptional murders, torture and collective arrests are included.

HRW said in a statement, “A United Nations report found that police, border guards, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and intelligence agencies including law enforcement agencies, in violation of serious human rights to include protests, protests Were engaged In August 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s former oppressive government was dropped. ,

It said, “An interim government led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has promised to improve the security sector. However, it deployed security forces including the army for “Operation Devil Hunt”, arresting around 2,000 people, mostly supporters of Hasina’s Awami League government. ,

Meenakshi Ganguly, director of Deputy Asia at HRW, said, “Bangladesh has been politically polarized by the Awami League government after decades, but officials should not repeat the mistakes of the past and ensure fair governance of law instead Should do. As the United Nations has said, the interim government should focus on immediate reforms in political system and economic rule. ,

HRW further stated that the United Nations report found that violations include extraordinary murders, indiscriminate firing, and large -scale arrests and torture, and it was estimated that 1,400 people were killed between 1 July to 15 August, Bangladesh’s security forces were shot by a vast majority. The report describes “a disturbing picture” in which “accountability and justice are essential for national treatment.”

The violence started recently as Sheikh Hasina announced that she would address her supporters online on 7 February, while in India. The announcement staged a fierce protest by students and others, who forced them to attack assets related to their family or party leaders. he/she also demolished his/her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house, who led the freedom war against Pakistan. The house was converted into a memorial museum.

Operation Devil Hunt was launched on 8 February after a confrontation between Awami League members and student protesters. Awami League supporters caused serious injuries, in an attempt to prevent a group of students from attacking a former minister’s house. The interim government stated that security operating groups are “associated with the fallen autocratic regime,” will describe them as “Devils”.

The interim government has criticized Hasina for provoking violence and asked India to extradite a test. Yunus also said that calling for calm: “Honoring the rule of law, the new Bangladesh is separately working to build from the old Bangladesh under the fascist rule.”

However, the government should also believe that the peaceful assembly and the right to protest by supporters of the former ruling government is a fundamental right under the international law, Human Rights Watch said. International human rights standard provides that law enforcement agencies should protect and facilitate that right and implement non -violent means as much as possible before resorting to force.

Younus government has an important task of ensuring orders. It should consider bringing a consensus resolution in the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council session in March to request technical assistance, further investigation, and requesting monitoring and reporting by United Nations -backed human rights experts. The resolution should also accept the atrocities of previous administration and recognize the steps of positive human rights taken by the interim government.

Ganguly said, “Bangladeshi Hasina is angry at repression by the administration and is worth justice and accountability, but it is a way of right-e-respect.” “All crimes including mob violence should be punished, but when the authority figures mark opponents as ‘devils’, it can fuel abuses by security forces who have never faced accountability.”