July 29, 2024
Cited article by France24
HRRC condemns the crackdown on protestors in Bangladesh. We support the United Nations in their call for an independent and impartial investigation into the violence which resulted in nearly 200 deaths. Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly must be respected.
News Brief
Protests erupted in Bangladesh following government-imposed employment quotas. The jobs quota scheme allegedly give preference to allies of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling party while over 18 million Bangladeshis remain unemployed. As thousands took to the streets in protest, Hasina immediately enacted a curfew and deployed soldiers across the country. A nationwide internet blackout was implemented as well, restricting the flow of information. Military forces arrested over 2,500 people, killed at least 193, and injured another 1,000, while many remain missing. Those injured have been denied medical care.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk demanded disclosure from the Bangladeshi government regarding the crackdown, and called for the immediate restoration of internet access. The complete shutdown of internet is against international law and Bangladesh's obligations "to respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly". Türk said that this also breached "a wide range of other rights, including freedom of association and of movement, the rights to health and education, and a number of economic rights."
*Update 7/29/2024 - Bangladesh has restored the internet after protests were called off.