UN urges Bangladesh govt to allow assembly, freedom of expression

The office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday urged the Bangladesh authorities to abide by human rights obligations and allow people to exercise their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression ahead of the next general election.

‘We also call on the authorities to ensure all those canvassing ahead of next year’s ballot are assured a safe and peaceful environment that respects and promotes political plurality and the expression of diverse views, in full respect for fundamental rights and freedoms,’ said Jeremy Laurence, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a press briefing in Geneva.

The call came a week after the Dhaka Metropolitan Police used heavy force against main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and supporters during their sit-in programme at five entrances of the capital Dhaka on July 29.

The government said that they had arrested 700 while the BNP said that 600 of them were injured in joint attack by police and ruling party people.