UN voices concern about mass arrests in Bangladesh

Staff Reporter :
The United Nations has reiterated its grave concerns over the widespread arrest and detention of the opposition leaders and workers ahead of the national election in Bangladesh.

Responding to the criticism of the government of Bangladesh against the UN for making comments over 8,000 arrests, the UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said such criticism against the UN was not new.

He made the comments in response to questions from journalists at the regular briefing at the UN headquarters on Tuesday.

Drawing attention to Stephane, the journalists stated that Bangladesh regime has rejected the Secretary-General’s calls to stop violence and excessive use of force and detention. As the ruling party’s secretary has said, UN is useless and has no other role in the world except to say some good words. So what is your stance on the situation, considering the detention of over 8,000 opposition protesters and the escalating casualties resulting from police actions?

“Well, criticism of the UN is not new. And I think it’s been framed in different times. On the situation in Bangladesh, I would refer you to what we’ve been saying for the last week, if not more, expressing our concern at the mass arrests and the general atmosphere,” he said.

Over the last several days, a number of international bodies, including the European Union and Human Rights Watch have consistently expressed their deep concern about the mass arrests and the overall atmosphere of unrest in the country.

They further said that they have been closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and encouraged all parties to exercise restraint and sit for dialogue to resolve the political standoff.

Right now the opposition political parties, especially the Bangladesh Nationalist Party are encountering mass arrest in different parts of the country including the capital since BNP’s Oct 28 grand rally which was dismantled on the excuse of attack on police.

When the parliamentary election is around the corner, the political landscape of Bangladesh is mired in escalating unrest.

The ruling Awami League and its handful of allies are in preparation for taking part in the election under the incumbent government while most of the parties are against this system of election.

The opposition parties are in the field with the demand for a caretaker government to hold the next general election and the dissolution of the parliament.

The government said that the election would be arranged under the current framework of the Constitution.
To address the situation, the international community, including the United Nations, continues to call for a peaceful resolution and respect for human rights in the country before and after the election.

But the situation remains fluid, with growing concerns over the implications of the ongoing political turmoil.
The international bodies, including the United States, have also urged for a free, fair and peaceful election.

But the government of Bangladesh is opposing such stance of the international organisations and the US, dubbing their involvement as interference in the internal matters.

Regarding it, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday said that the government is not happy with the role of the foreign diplomats in the election here.

He said that the government wants that they would distance from it.

“We don’t like it (envoys’ interference). But we have given them a cultural space as it is being practiced in Bangladesh for a long time. But we hope they would maintain distance from it in the coming days. Bangladesh will take its own decision,” he told the journalists at the Foreign Ministry.

He further said, “The election schedule will be announced within a week or two. The envoys are our guests. If they don’t follow the Vienna Convention, we have our own role as well.”

Asked about whether the envoys would be invited before the announcement of the schedule, he said, “We reminded some diplomats about it in the past. I think they would remain alert.”

He does not think that it will be necessary to call the envoys again for their activities. “I don’t think it will be necessary. If it happens, it will be regrettable. Then we will have no option left.”