UN expresses deep concern over growing incidents of killings in Bangladesh
GENAVA: The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of violent killings in Bangladesh.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein made the concern while addressing on global human rights update at the regular session of the 32nd Human Right Council in Geneva yesterday. He called for quick investigation and prosecution of the culprits.
Meanwhile Bangladesh police detained more than three thousand persons including 35 suspected militants yesterday. Over 8,500 people have been arrested so far during the first 4 days of the week-long drive against militants. Most of the 119 suspected militants who have been arrested are activists of banned Jamaatul Mujahideen, JMB.
Others are Ansarullah Bangla Team members. While majority detainees are wanted in various crimes, those arrested also include activists of opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its Students’ Wing Islami Chhatra Sibir.
Main Opposition BNP has blamed that over 2,100 of its leaders and activists were arrested during the current combing operations. Bangladesh Human Rights Commission Chairperson Prof. Mizanur Rahman said many innocent people might be victims during the government anti-militants drive.
Bangladesh launched a 7-day militant crack-down on Friday in the wake of a string of targetted killings of minority community members, secular writers, bloggers, publishers, rights activists and international aid workers. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to to stop the killings whilst linking the opposition to the violence spree.
