Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon Bangladesh authorities to bring the perpetrators of attacks on student protesters demanding safer roads.
The New York-based rights body also urged the government to order an immediate investigation into reports that renowned photographer and activist Shahidul Alam was beaten while in custody.
“Instead of prosecuting those responsible for unlawfully attacking student protesters demanding road safety, Bangladesh authorities are arresting students and targeting activists and journalists who are highlighting the abuses,” reads a statement posted on its website on Monday.
Quoting its Asia Director Brad Adams, it said, “Yet again, Bangladesh authorities seem determined to take abusive shortcuts to problems, and then denounce those who criticize. The authorities should immediately release anyone, including Shahidul Alam, they have locked up for peaceful criticism. Instead, authorities should prosecute those, including members of the ruling party’s youth supporters, who are attacking children with sticks and machetes.”
The statement also said thousands of students have been protesting the July 29 killings of two students by a speeding bus.
According to numerous witnesses, members of the ruling Awami League’s student and youth wings have attacked the protesters with machetes and sticks. Similar attacks were reported in other areas of Dhaka. Some 20 journalists, particularly photographers and videographers, were beaten up for documenting the attacks, according to media reports. Journalists identified some of their attackers to be Awami League youth members.
HRW said Drik Gallery founder Shahidul was detained the Detective Branch hours after an interview with Al Jazeera where he said that “the police specifically asked for help from armed goons to combat unarmed students demanding safe roads.”
The Bangladesh government should ensure that security forces respect basic human rights standards on the use of force, including in dispersing demonstrations, Human Rights Watch said.
“It would be shameful if the Sheikh Hasina government is deploying party hoodlums to target students for demanding safe roads. Bangladeshi authorities must immediately halt the violence perpetrated by government supporters against protesters and journalists and respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the statement quoted HRW Asia Director Adams.