UN termed violence 'political protests': Noted citizens’ protest

The civil society of Bangladesh has responded to the press briefing of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The civil society said that some of the observations of the statement of  the UN Human Rights Office are not based on facts and hence should be revisited. 

In this regard, some 81 signatories have issued a statement on Saturday. 

Here is the statement of civil society of Bangladesh:

The press briefing notes of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of October 31, 2023, titled ‘Bangladesh Political Protests’ have drawn our attention.

We came to know from the statement that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was closely monitoring with concern the violent incidents taking place in Bangladesh since BNP-Jamaat’s program on October 28, 2023. It appears to us that some of the observations of the statement are not based on facts and hence should be revisited. 

The very title of the notes, ‘Bangladesh Political Protests’ does not reflect the facts of the incidents. We may mention herewith what actually happened on October 28th and afterwards for better understanding. Categorizing all the unprecedented violence, including ruthless arson, police killings, burning people alive, and mindless vandalism, as ‘political protests’, the statement made might explicitly encourage the perpetrators, to carry on with their heinous violent activities.

Though all the miscreants who attacked the residences of the Chief Justice and other judges were identified as BNP activists, the statement does not reflect the actual situation. Even while doing so, it seems that benefit of doubt has gone to the perpetrators by saying ‘opposition protesters allegedly attacked’. Moreover, the statement reflects a wrong perception against the ruling party by saying ‘who are thought to have been ruling party supporters.’ 

As regards death of 11 people, particularly six opposition party members, claimed in the notes to have died during the violence is misleading. In fact, two garment workers, Russel Hawlader and Emran Hossain, who died in a separate incident, one Jahangir Alam was an Awami League leader and was killed by the BNP people in Lalmonirhat on October 29, another person named Shameem, who died stamped near the BNP’s rally venue on October 28, was not involved in politics as claimed by his father, Yusuf.

Ms. Urmee Bhuiyan, the daughter of another deceased Rafique Bhuiyan (73), whom BNP claimed to have been killed by police attacks, told the media that her father was not amid violence and died of brain haemorrhage after falling from rikshaw in city’s Shegunbagicha area.

Police constable Amirul Haque Parvez was brutally killed on October 28 near the BNP rally venue at Paltan and a bus helper, Md. Nayeem, was burned to death while he was sleeping in the wee hours of October 29 by the ‘opposition protesters.’

About an opposition activist Abdur Rashid’s death, the leading English daily, The Daily Star, wrote, ‘BNP man fell to his death.’ Quoting eyewitnesses, most mainstream media said he met his death by falling from the rooftop of an under-construction building while fleeing after setting fire to a bus in the other part of the city on October 29.

Jubo Dal (Youth Front of BNP) activist Jilu Ahmed was severely injured on a highway in Sylhet about 235 kilometers from Dhaka on October 31 while his speeding motorbike crashed into a tree after attending a violent party procession. He later died in hospital while undergoing treatment. 

From various sources, we came to know that Billal Hossain and Rifat Ullah were among around 1500 unruly people of BNP who formed a violent unlawful assembly, and attacked the Police on duty. Both of them got injured and died while undergoing treatment at around 8:30 am on October 31 in Kuliarchar of Kishoreganj district.

The whole nation is shocked at the unprecedented attack on the residences of the Chief Justice and other Supreme Court judges. Despicable attacks injuring around 35 journalists also shocked the nation. Police have already identified the attackers, masked or unmasked, involved in the incident and found their clear connections with the BNP.

Video footage of the policemen being beaten and chopped to death also shows some attackers wearing masks. The OHCHR surmised that the attackers who were masked were ruling party men. It is erroneous and deserves keen observation.

Notably all the media published the news with pictures and videos about one Robiul Islam, Member Secretary of Dhaka-South Jubodal (BNP), setting fire to vehicles on October 28 wearing vest with the word ‘PRESS’ printed on it.

The briefing notes mentioned, police attacking protesters with rods. This is  not based on facts. When the attackers turned extremely violent, police dispersed them using only batons, tear shells, rubber bullets, and sound grenades as per law.

With regard to the OHCHR’s allegations of indiscriminate raids and arrests, we understand Police showed its utmost patience in maintaining law and order, on October 28. 

In assessing police actions vis-à-vis the atrocities committed, we request the OHCHR to take in view that residences of the Chief Justice and other Supreme Court judges were attacked, mindless attack on the journalist, severity and brutality with which policemen were beaten to death, Central Police hospital was vandalized and set ablaze, dozens of vehicles were set on fire, the central and biggest police lines of Bangladesh Police were attacked, innocent people were burned to death.

It is our earnest request to further verify facts and figures about the aforementioned issues.

Name of the signatories  

1. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Economist & Environmentalist.

2. Dr Sarwar Ali, Freedom Fighter, Trustee of Freedom War Museum and Executive President of Chhayanat. 

3. Professor Dr. Kamrul Hasan Khan, Freedom Fighter and Former Vice Chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

4. Mr. K. H. Masud Siddiqui, Former Secretary and Former Member, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC).

5. Mr. Mohammed Nurul Huda, Former Inspector General of Bangladesh Police (IGP), Secretary & Columnist.

6. Professor Dr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Former Vice Chancellor, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science & Technology University

7. Mr. Ujjwal Bikash Dutta, Former Secretary and Former Member, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC).

8. Mr. Ramendu Majumdar, Actor and Stage Director.

9. Professor Dr. Kanak Kanti Barua, Former Vice Chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

10. Dr. Hassan Mahmood Khandker, Former Inspector General of Bangladesh Police & Ambassador.

11. Ambassador Md. Abdul Hannan.

12. Mr. Nasiruddin Yousuff Bacchu- Freedom Fighter, Writer and Cultural Activist.

13. Mr. Saurendra Nath Chakrabhartty, Former Senior Secretary.

14. Mr. Mohammad Sirajul Hoque Khan, Former Secretary.

15. Mr. Mozammel Babu, President, Editors Guild.

16. Mr. Aparup Chowdhury, Former Secretary.

17. Mr. Mofidul Hoque, Trustee, Liberation War Museum.

18. Mr. Asaduzzaman Mia, Former Police Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

19. Mr. Ashoke Kumar Biswas, Former Secretary.

20. Kazi Reazul Hoque, Former Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh.

21. Dr. Proshanto Kumar Roy, Former Secretary. 

22. Mr. Md. Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Former Secretary. 

23. Mr. Subir Kishore Choudhury, Former Secretary. 

24. Mr. Md. Abdus Samad, Former Senior Secretary. 

25. Ambassador Suhrab Hossain. 

26. Mr. Molla Waheeduzzaman, Former Chairman, Privatization Commission.

27. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Samad, Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka.

28. Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Quazi Sazzad Ali Zahir, BP

29. Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Former Principal Secretary.

30. Mr. Ashok Madhab Roy, Former Secretary.

31. Ambassador AKM Atiqur Rahman.

32. Dr. Benazir Ahmed, Former Inspector General of Bangladesh Police (IGP).

33. Mr. Tanvir Mokammel, Filmmaker.

34. Ambassador Golam Muhammad. 

35. Mr. Mohammad Sahidul Hoque, Former Senior Secretary.

36. Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury, Former Professor, University of Dhaka.

37. Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad.

38. Mr. Kashem Humayun, Journalist.

39. Dr. Jahangir Alam Khan, Economist 

40. Mr. Osman Gani, Freedom Fighter and Publisher, Agamee Prakashani.

41. Ambassador Chowdhury Ikhtiar Momin.

42. Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Former Principal Secretary. 

43. Ambassador Mahbub UzZaman. 

44. Dr. MuhammedSadique, Former Secretaryand Former Chairman, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC).

45. Dr. AtiurRahman, Former Governor, Bangladesh Bank.

46. Mr. IqbalMahmood, Former Chairman, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

47. Dr. RubanaHuq, Vice-chancellor, Asian University for Women (AUW).

48. Ambassador ATM Nazrul Islam.

49. Mr. M A QuaderSarker, Former Secretary. 

50. Mr. Sunil Kanti Bose, Former Secretary

51. Ms. Nasima Begum, ndc, Former Chairman Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh.

52. Mr. ShamolKantiGhose, Former Secretary.

53. Mr. MonjurulAhsan Bulbul, Journalist.

54. Mr. Md. FazlulHoque, Former secretary and Member PSC.

55. Mr. MdDilwarBakth,Former Senior Secretary.

56. Mr. Nasir Ahmed, Poet and Journalist.

57. Ms. JesminAra Begum, Former District Judge & Former Member, National Human Rights Commission.

58. Mr. Mazharul Islam, Publisher,Annaprakash.

59. Ms. Farida Yasmin, President, National Press Club.

60. Mr. ShyamalDutta, General Secretary, National Press Club and Editor, Daily VorerKagoj.

61. Mr. Manjurul Islam, CEO , DBC News.

62. Professor Dr. Ikbal Arsenal, Former President,SWACHIP.

63. Professor Dr. Deen Muhammad NurulHoq, Former DG, Health.

64. Prof. Dr. Md. Nurul Amin, Department of Public Administration, Jahangirnagar University.

65. Professor Dr. Boren Chakraborty.

66. Mr. PijushBandyopadhay, Cultural Activist.

67. Dr. Nizamuddin, Architect and writer.

68. Ambassador Md. Shahidul Islam.

69. Professor Dr. M A Mannan, Former Vice-Chancellor,Bangladesh Open University.

70. Prof. Dr.NuzhatChoudhury.

71. Prof. Dr.Mamun-Al Mahtab.

72. Mr. Md. NojiburRahman, Former Principal Secretary and Chairman, Capital Market Stabilization Fund (CMSF).

73. Professor Dr. Rashid Askari, Former Vice Chancellor, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh.

74. Mr. Morshedul Islam, Filmmaker.

75. Ms. SelinaAfroze, PhD, Former Secretary.

76. Mr. PabanChowdhury, Former Secretary.

77. Dr. Harun-or- Rashid, Former ViceChecncellor, National University Bangladesh.

78. Mr. Md. ShamsulArefin, Former Senior Secretary.

79. Dr. KhondakerShowkatHossain, Former Secretary.

80. Mr. IqbalHabib, Architect. 

81. Dr. Masuduzzaman, Writer and Professor of Dhaka University.