Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh: Excessive Force and Crackdown on Opposition Protests

GHRTV

Aug 12, 2023 - 11:33

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Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh: Excessive Force and Crackdown on Opposition Protests

Bangladesh Rifles, by Tenkai-Sama, via Flickr, 2015

04-08-2023

Alexandra Posta

East and South Asia Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

In late July 2023, Bangladesh witnessed a series of protests that turned violent as the police employed excessive force against opposition party supporters. Institutions have documented and condemned the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and batons by law enforcement, leading to injuries and arrests of political activists (Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International). The crackdown occurred amidst a visit by the European Union's special representative for human rights and the EU's exploratory mission to assess conditions for monitoring the upcoming national elections (Human Rights Watch). The international community has expressed concern over the deteriorating democratic situation in the country, with the United States threatening visa restrictions for those undermining the electoral process (Human Rights Watch).

The protests in late July were organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party in the country. The demonstrations were calling for a caretaker government to oversee the January 2024 elections. However, the authorities responded with mass arrests of over 800 BNP leaders and activists, effectively silencing the opposition and impeding their participation in the electoral process (Human Rights Watch). Videos of the clashes between the police and protestors revealed the use of excessive force, with security forces kicking and hitting unarmed individuals (Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International). The police justified their actions by claiming that the rally was not permitted, but it raised concerns about the violation of the right to freedom of assembly and the use of force during demonstrations (Human Rights Watch). Moreover, leaked minutes from a police meeting suggested a systematic effort to convict opposition members to disqualify them from the upcoming elections (Human Rights Watch).

Bangladesh has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, therefore it is obliged to uphold the rights covered by it. The indiscriminate use of rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and batons against peaceful protestors in Bangladesh constitutes a violation of human rights under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects the right to peaceful assembly. Additionally, the mass arrests and filing of cases against opposition leaders and activists based on questionable grounds infringe upon the principles of a fair trial and due process, as guaranteed by Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These actions raise serious concerns about the credibility of the upcoming national elections and undermine Bangladesh's commitment to uphold democratic values.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have urgently called on the Bangladeshi authorities to put an end to the use of excessive force against protesters and respect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly (Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International). The EU's special representative and the exploratory mission should take the widespread abuses during the recent protests into account while preparing their report on the country's electoral conditions (Human Rights Watch). The international community, including the EU, is urged to stress that failure to address these serious human rights abuses could lead to consequences on trade benefits and other cooperation with Bangladesh (Human Rights Watch). It is essential for the authorities to ensure accountability for those responsible for the violent crackdown and uphold international human rights standards to restore confidence in the electoral process (Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International).

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