Various international organizations and countries have expressed concern over the large-scale violence and casualties caused by the quota reform movement.
The government thinks it has 'controlled the situation' with the help of law enforcement agencies.
But experts say, on the face of it, the 'suffocating' situation the government has created may seem to have no effect. But it may have a 'negative' effect on Bangladesh.
They think that the major change in the situation of Bangladesh after the controversial 12th National Parliament election is evident from the course of events of this movement.
Because, with the 'evidence' that human rights organizations now have, they can 'very easily apply various pressures on policy-makers'.
UN Secretary-General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric (left), UN human rights chief Volker Turk (center) and US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller (right).
Concerns of international organizations
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the use of live fire by security forces in recent incidents in Bangladesh. They expressed this concern through a statement. Similarly, Bangladesh authorities in Dhaka and New York have been directly informed about this concern.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General, participated in a regular press briefing in New York on Thursday, July 25, and said in response to a question, "We have seen what is happening in Bangladesh, the mass arrests and killings that have taken place. All acts of violence should be investigated in a transparent and credible manner. An environment should be created which is conducive to dialogue.”
Meanwhile, UN human rights chief Volker Turk called on the Bangladesh government to urgently release detailed information on the crackdown on protesters.
According to international law, the government must immediately restore full internet access for all people, including journalists and media, to communicate freely, the statement said. Law enforcement agencies are called upon to uphold international human rights principles and standards.
In a press release on the same day, the international human rights organization Amnesty International Bangladesh said that the authorities "unlawfully continued to use force" despite the six-day communication restriction during the movement demanding quota reform.
Police and students face off in quota reform movement
Based on an analysis of three video footages available on social media, Amnesty International said in a statement that law enforcement forces used lethal and mild weapons to quell the protests.
Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's senior director, said, “Continuous review and analysis of videos and images from Bangladesh has revealed a grim picture. Especially given the appalling human rights record of the Bangladesh government and the actions of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) deployed to quell the protests, there is no assurance that the internet shutdown (which is still partially in place) will protect protesters' rights in the absence of international monitoring.”
The New York-based international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) released the statement ahead of the UN and Amnesty's statement.
In a statement on Monday, July 22nd, Meenakshi Ganguly, the deputy Asia director of the organization, said, "The law enforcement forces have been persecuting anyone who opposes Sheikh Hasina's government for a long time in Bangladesh. And, this time too, we are seeing the same continuity applied to the unarmed protesting students.”
"Now is the tie for powerful governments to put pressure on Sheikh Hasina. So that he stops the repression of students and other agitators."
Former ambassador and international analyst M Humayun Kabir told BBC Bangla, "All those who have made statements are credible."
He thinks, needless to say that a 'negative' pressure will be created as a result of these statements of international organizations. Now how the government will deal with it, that is a matter to be seen.
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Location of countries
Condemning the recent violence surrounding the quota reform movement in Bangladesh, the United States urged everyone to exercise restraint for a peaceful environment.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a regular press briefing on Wednesday, July 24, "I have made it clear that we are concerned about the ongoing security situation in Bangladesh."
The Canadian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement on Thursday, July 25, that they were appalled by the violence the people of Bangladesh were subjected to during the student protests last week.
"It must be ensured that those responsible for these tragic incidents and those who are being arrested in these incidents are tried through due process."
The Canadian High Commission's statement also called for the immediate launch of Internet services and opening of communications.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said after a courtesy meeting with the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday morning, July 18, that China always wants stability in Bangladesh.
On the issue of ongoing quota movement in Bangladesh, he told reporters that the government and people of Bangladesh have the ability to solve this problem themselves.
"China does not talk about any country's internal affairs," Yao Wen said.
Meanwhile, in the weekly press conference on Thursday, July 25, Indian Foreign Office spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on the issue of quota reform movement, they are hopeful that the ongoing situation in Bangladesh will return to normal soon.
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