EU ‘deeply concerned’ by political violence in Bangladesh

Staff Reporter :
The European Union (EU) and its Member State missions in Dhaka in a joint statement have expressed deep concerns over the recent incidents of political violence and encourage all parties to behave in a peaceful and lawful manner.
 The EU in Bangladesh on Sunday tweeted this statement on the official page of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh.
“The EU and EU Member State missions in Dhaka are deeply concerned by the recent reports of politically motivated violence and strongly encourage all those engaged in political activities to conduct them in a peaceful, lawful manner,” it read.
The statement was issued just after a day of the nationwide Union level ‘road march’ programme of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held on February 11.
During the programme, sporadic incidents of clashes took place between the leaders and workers of BNP and ruling party Awami League as well as the law enforcers.
The clashes were reported in Narayanganj, Sirajganj, Jhalakathi, Satkhira, Lalmonirhat, Bhola, Tangail and other districts, leaving at least 600 people injured including policemen, BNP said in a press conference on Monday.
Following the clashes, there were incidents of arson, setting dozens of motorbikes ablaze and vandalism, creating a panic among the people.
“At least 600 BNP leaders and workers were injured across the country during the Union level programme. Of them, 15 were critically injured,” BNP acting Office Secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince in a press conference held in party headquarters at Naya Paltan.
He also said, “A series of cases have been filed against our leaders and workers. 45 new cases were filed against around 4,517 BNP leaders and workers and 300 BNP men were arrested following the Union road march.”
“There is no pause in filing false cases against our leaders and workers. Even cases were filed in the areas where peaceful road march programmes were held,” he said.
He alleged that the ruling party men and law enforcers have taken a stance against the people ahead of the 12th national election.
“BNP and other political parties are facing attacks and mass arrest ahead of the election. The incumbent government is using the old tool of mass arrest to cling to power,” he said.
BNP is repeatedly urging the ruling party to refrain from calling programmes on the same day as they said that coincidence of programme may lead to violence and chaos.
But ruling party Awami League said that they would remain in the field to tackle any sort of violence committed by the opposition BNP.
BNP has been holding various programmes to realise their 10-point demands including the resignation of the government and formation of a non-partisan caretaker government to hold a free and fair parliamentary poll.