Staff Reporter :
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon the interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, to urgently protect minorities and uphold human rights in Bangladesh.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister and her departure from the country, tens of thousands of Bangladeshis celebrated the end of her repressive rule.
However, in some areas, celebrations turned violent, resulting in hundreds killed or injured as demonstrators sought reprisals against those perceived to have supported Hasina’s government, HRW reported.
Rioters burned down historical structures and targeted members of Hasina’s Awami League party. In several districts, members of the Hindu community, generally considered to have largely backed the Awami League, were violently attacked, with homes torched, temples vandalized, and shops looted. Reports also indicated attacks against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and ethnic minorities.
A Hindu businessman in Tangail told Human Rights Watch, “While the crowd was celebrating Hasina’s fall, some crowd members suddenly started attacking the businesses nearby, including my shop.” An Awami League politician in Jashore recounted, “Soon after the news spread in my neighborhood that Sheikh Hasina had fled the country, our businesses and houses were targeted by rioters. They were venting their anger by chanting against Sheikh Hasina and Awami League leaders.”
In many places, Muslim clerics, students, and community leaders came out to protect Hindu temples and Christian churches. Political leaders and student protest organizers also called for calm.
Rioters frequently targeted and attacked members of the police, who are widely despised for years of rampant human rights abuses, including during the protests that led to Hasina’s resignation. Mohammad Mainul Islam, the police chief, publicly apologized for “unprofessional officers” who “did not follow the accepted principles of applying force and violated human rights.” He has pledged accountability.
Yunus urged Bangladeshis to refrain from reprisals and violence, stating, “Violence is our enemy. Be calm and get ready to build the country.”
Authorities must ensure minorities are protected and the rule of law is respected. They also need to ensure that the police and other law enforcement agencies do not escalate or contribute to the violence.
The interim government, once in place, should take up the United Nations’ offer to establish an independent investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for past human rights violations as well as violations during the recent violence. This will be crucial to rebuilding faith in Bangladesh’s justice system.
