Kathmandu: Civil society members and human rights defenders staged a protest in front of the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu on Wednesday demanding that the government of Bangladesh should conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths of Bangladeshi students and civilians, hold the perpetrators accountable and immediately release all those arrested. Further, they have asked the government of Bangladesh to provide full reparations, including adequate compensation and guarantees of non-repetition, to victims and survivors of unlawful police violence.
They also submitted letters to Embassy of Bangladesh.
Protestors displayed placards that read ‘release the protestors,’ ‘shame shame Hasina,’ ‘all eyes on Bangladesh,’ ‘justice for Bangladeshi students,’ among others.
Bangladesh is witnessing the deadliest crackdown against protesters in the country’s post-independence history. The heavy-handed response from the authorities has resulted in the deaths of more than 197 students, journalists, and bystanders, and injured thousands since 15 July 2024 as the crackdown escalated, Amnesty International said.
According to Amnesty International, security forces responded to the protests with unlawful, and sometimes lethal, force. The Bangladesh authorities also failed to prevent attacks against protesters allegedly carried out by members of the Bangladesh Chatra League (BCL), a group affiliated with the ruling party. The authorities also put a “shoot on sight” curfew, nationwide blackouts, shutting down the country from the rest of the world.
“The rights and safety of Bangladeshis are at serious risk and immediate action is needed to hold the authorities to account,” said Amnesty International.
[Photo courtesy: All photos by Amnesty International]
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