UNITED NATIONS, Aug 6 (IPS) – Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and fled the nation after weeks of violent clashes with protesters. Preparations for a provisional authorities takeover are underway, with the assist of the army, political events, scholar leaders of the protest motion and all different teams concerned within the transition. A UN spokesman urged all events concerned within the present transition to work collectively to make sure a peaceable and democratic transition.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for U.N. Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres, mentioned he was following developments intently. In an announcement on Monday, Guterres denounced and condemned the “additional lack of life” throughout weekend protests, referring to Sunday’s protests within the capital Dhaka. Greater than 100 individuals had been reported lifeless, together with not less than 14 cops. Reuters experiences that that is the best single-day loss of life toll throughout protests within the nation’s fashionable historical past.
Haq advised a day by day press convention on the United Nations Headquarters that the United Nations was in full solidarity with the individuals of Bangladesh and known as for full respect for his or her human rights. Haque added: “It is necessary for us that every one events stay calm and we need to emphasize a peaceable, orderly and democratic transition.”
“In the end, there’s a want for a full, impartial, neutral and clear investigation into the violence that has occurred to this point,” he mentioned.
Haq added that the United Nations and its workplace in Bangladesh are in touch with native authorities because the scenario continues to evolve. “The scenario is evolving in a short time. We’ve to see what occurs when the mud settles.”
What started as a protest towards civil service recruitment practices grew into a bigger motion towards authorities repression that was seen as suppressing human rights, similar to freedom of expression and the best to peaceable demonstration. On August 4, protesters known as for Hasina’s resignation after her authorities responded to the month-long protests. In current weeks, police and army have opened hearth on protesters and civilians, imposed curfews and shut down web and communications networks for days.
Chief of Military Employees Common Waq-uz-Zaman introduced Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim authorities in a speech to the nation on Monday. He additionally requested the individuals of Bangladesh to “preserve belief within the army” throughout this era.
With a number of experiences of public vandalism and arson on authorities buildings and residences rising, Zaman in a later assertion mentioned the general public ought to keep away from inflicting injury to public property or inflicting hurt to lives.
Senior United Nations system officers publicly condemned the lack of life throughout this era. UNESCO Director-Common Audrey Azoulay issued a public assertion condemning the killing of the 2 journalists and calling on the authorities to carry these accountable accountable.
Sanjay Wijisekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, condemned experiences of the deaths of 32 youngsters as of August 2 and the detention of kids. “In step with worldwide human rights and the United Nations Conference on the Rights of the Youngster, to which Bangladesh is a signatory, and primarily based on analysis on the impression of detention on youngsters, UNICEF urges an finish to all types of detention of kids,” he mentioned.
U.N. Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Walker Türk issued an announcement on Monday calling for a peaceable transition of energy guided by human rights and international locations’ worldwide obligations.
“The transition should be performed in a clear and accountable method, and be inclusive and open to the significant participation of all Bangladeshis,” he mentioned. “There should be no additional violence or reprisals.”
Turk known as for the discharge of these arbitrarily detained. He pressured that those that violated human rights wanted to be held accountable, whereas reiterating that his workplace would assist any impartial investigation into these violations.
“Now could be a time for nationwide therapeutic, together with an instantaneous finish to violence, accountability, making certain victims’ rights to reality and reparations, and a really inclusive course of that unites the nation and strikes ahead collectively.”
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