UN urges restraint:Daily Star

Expressing concern over the political situation in Bangladesh, the United Nations Human Rights Commission yesterday urged all political parties to show restraint and bring an immediate end to violence. “The deepening political violence in Bangladesh, resulting from the failure by the two major political parties to resolve their differences peacefully, is very disturbing,” said the UN body in a sta
tement yesterday. Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani said, “We are concerned about the potential for the violence, which has already led to deaths, injury and disruption, to spiral, as seen in the run up to the 2014 elections.” “We also call on the authorities to ensure the prompt, impartial and effective investigation of all killings committed -- irrespective of whether they were committed by State or non-State actors,” said the statement. It said the government should also ensure that the arrest and detention of key opposition leaders by law enforcement agencies is not arbitrary, and that all measures taken to restore law and order are conducted in line with the parameters set by international human rights law, including respect for the freedoms of peaceful assembly, movement and speech. The statement comes on the 11th day of the blockade called by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia after she failed to come out of her Gulshan office to hold a rally to mark the first anniversary of the January 5 polls as the “Democracy Killing Day”. The government, meanwhile, imposed a ban on demonstrations and prevented the chairperson and other senior members of the BNP from participating in protests.  Advertisement “Since then, over a dozen people have reportedly been killed and hundreds injured in clashes between supporters of the two parties, as well as with security forces. A number of key opposition leaders have also been arrested,” read the statement. “Particularly disturbing is the rampant use of arson attacks on vehicles.” Referring to two major violent incidents on January 13, it said a crowded public bus was set on fire burning to death four people including one child. The same day, a senior BNP adviser was shot at and his car set on fire.