Staff Reporter :
The United States has said that there was no excuse for violence and anyone responsible for violence in Bangladesh should be held accountable.
“We have made clear that there’s no excuse for violence, either conducted against those conducting peaceful protests or conducted by those protesting, and anyone that’s responsible for violence should be held accountable,” Mathew Miller, US Department of State Spokesperson said on Wednesday during a press briefing in Washington.
He came up with the remarks in reply to a question of a journalist who asked about the Home Ministry of Bangladesh’s embargo on prosecution individuals involved in the action during the anti-Hasina movement up to August 8th and reports that between August 5th, after Sheikh Hasina departure, and August 8th, many police officers were killed.
Will the US administration urge the Bangladesh Government to ensure justice for all victims, irrespective of political affiliation? the journalist asked.
Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a statement, said there will be no cases, arrests or harassment for the events related to the July uprising, organised from July 15 to August 8.
Even, following such statement, Chairperson of human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) ZI Khan Panna told BBC Bangla that there is no chance of impunity for criminal offences.
“All the efforts that are going on now are illegal,” he said.
In reply to another question that followers of the outlet Hizb ut-Tahrir and Jamaat-e-Islami sang Islamic song and even forced to recitation of Qu’ranic verses on the Durga Puja during Bangladeshi largest Hindu festival.
How does U.S. administration view this incident? “Obviously we are committed to religious freedom in Bangladesh and elsewhere.
With regard to that specific incident, I’ll take it back and get you,” Miller replied.