FE Report
Two leading global rights bodies -- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) -- vented their worry over the latest government measures against opposition politicians and the media in Bangladesh as they feared a repercussion.
On a strong note of criticism, the New York-based HRW apprehended such actions would "only inflame an already-tense situation' in the country.
In a press release issued Friday, the global rights group called upon the government to immediately end its "use of excessive force", stop "arbitrary arrests" of members of opposition parties and lift restrictions on the media.
It said hundreds of opposition activists, including from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, were rounded up across the country in recent days.
Such measures, it noted, came in response to opposition protests on the anniversary of controversial national polls in January 2014, which the BNP boycotted and from which Jamaat was excluded.
"The government's indiscriminate use of force, arbitrary arrests, and censorship will only inflame an already-tense situation," said Brad Adams, Asia director of the HR watchdog.
"Authorities have an obligation to protect the public, but need to do it in a way that doesn't throw human rights and the rule of law out the window."
Mentioning BNP chief Khaleda Zia's confinement to her Gulshan office since January 3, the HRW statement said although the government claims she is not under arrest but a heavy security presence is in place, the gates are locked and the former Prime Minister "has even been denied exit".
Citing recent announcement of Information Minister Hasanul Huq that the government was preparing murder charges against Khaleda Zia for an arson attack, it noted that a corruption trial against Zia began this week which she has been unable to attend due to the security cordon around her.
On January 6, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the acting secretary-general of the BNP, was arrested while leaving the press club in Dhaka, for allegedly organizing a protest the previous day that led to the deaths of four people and dozens of injuries, according to the press release.
The international rights group said two activists were shot dead in clashes between activists from the ruling party and security forces. Another two died the same day at the hands of security forces. Several other BNP leaders have been arrested as well.
About the allegation of violence and arson attacks against the opposition leaders and supporters, the HRW statement said the government had not produced any facts to support this assertion that opposition supporters have engaged in violence.
"Opposition leaders should call on party workers to refrain from violence during the protests," it said, adding that the authorities also targeted media perceived to be sympathetic to the opposition.
Mentioning the arrest of Ekushey TV (ETV) Chairman Abdus Salam, it said he was detained on January 7 last allegedly for charges of broadcasting pornography. His arrest came a day after ETV's broadcast of an anti-government speech by Tarique Rahman, BNP senior vice-chairman and son of Zia.
Shortly after the speech was broadcast, the government announced a ban on any further public dissemination, by any medium, of any political speeches by Rahman, without citing any reason, the statement said.
The 2014 election period was marred by severe violence, leaving hundreds dead or injured, the HR agency mentioned.
In response to often violent opposition protests, it said the government launched a crackdown during which law-enforcement officials carried out "extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests".
"The space for speech critical of the government was already under threat before this recent clampdown," Adams said, adding that the arrest of the owner and closure of the TV station is not acceptable from a government that "claims to be democratic".
In a simultaneous reaction, Amnesty International made a strong plea that Bangladeshi authorities must investigate the recent killing of protesters and release prisoners - including chairman of a local television channel and an opposition leader - arrested as part of an apparent crackdown against the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP).
The London-based international rights group in a statement issued Friday said two people were reported killed on Wednesday night during clashes between police and BNP supporters in Noakhali. At least six people have been killed in protests since Monday.
"The government of Bangladesh has a duty to launch an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into these deaths and bring those responsible to justice," said Abbas Faiz, a Bangladeshi researcher at the Amnesty International.
Earlier this week, the police also arrested Abdus Salam, chairman of the Ekushey TV channel, and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP's Acting Secretary-General. Several party activists have also been arrested.
There are several indications that the charges against Abdus Salam and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir are "politically motivated", the statement said.
Abdus Salam was arrested on January 6, few hours after his channel had broadcast a speech by Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman. The chairman was charged under the Pornography Act, stemming from a complaint last November by a woman who said her reputation had been damaged by a programme about prostitution.
A court subsequently banned the media from reporting speeches by Tarique Rahman, who lives in self-imposed exile in the UK. According to local media, Ekushey TV may also face prosecution for broadcasting the speech.
However, the AI noted, there is no evidence Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has advocated for or engaged in violent acts.
"These arrests represent clear violations of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," said Abbas Faiz in the statement.
"The Bangladeshi authorities must demonstrate their commitment to international human rights law by ensuring no one is arbitrarily detained, harassed or intimidated for exercising their rights," he added.
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