Diplomatic Correspondent

UN Secretary General António Guterres has expressed deep concern about the situation in Bangladesh, citing reports of excessive force by security forces and credible evidence of human rights violations during student protests.

Speaking at the daily press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday (July 29) Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric stated that the Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the situation in Bangladesh.

“He (Guterres) notes reports of the resumption of student protests today (Monday) and reiterates his call for calm and restraint. The Secretary-General is concerned about reported mass arrests of thousands of young people and political opposition in connection with the current student movement.”

“He underscores the importance of due process and the right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. He is also alarmed by emerging reports about the excessive use of force by security forces and credible evidence of human rights violations.”

The Secretary-General reiterated his call for all acts of violence to be investigated promptly, transparently, and impartially, and for those responsible to be held to account, added the Spokesperson.

“We continue to raise our concerns about the situation in the country with relevant authorities, both in the capital, Dhaka, and here in New York, and we count on Bangladesh to respect and uphold human rights, including as a top troop-contributing country to United Nations peacekeeping missions.”

“We have taken note of the statements by the Bangladeshi authorities that UN-marked vehicles are no longer being deployed within Bangladesh.”

“We remind and reiterate that UN troop- and police-contributing countries are to use UN insignia and equipment marked with the UN insignia only when they are performing mandated tasks as UN peacekeepers in the context of their deployment within a UN peacekeeping operation.”