Plea to avert new social crisis

In spite of massive protests locally and internationally, the government of Bangladesh has not taken any significant steps to stop the extrajudicial and secret killings. Either the government is unwilling or it is not capable of stopping such killings. It is time to resist this gross violation of people's right to life, which now takes place, as it seems, with the government's direct or tacit consent. We urge the government to stop these killings and return to the democratic way of life, as envisaged in the Constitution of the Republic.
To prevent further killings and to avert a new social crisis in the country, the government must take immediate action regarding these matters. First, and most obviously, full investigations and judicial inquiries must follow without delay, with a view to holding the perpetrators fully accountable for their heinous crimes and making clear that this pattern of killings will not be allowed to continue. Secondly, protection must be given to all persons who have witnessed the crimes. Thirdly, the Commission on Human Rights of Bangladesh must play an active role by coordinating its work with the National Bureau of Investigation, rather than wait for other agencies to take the initiative, and by considering recommendations to indemnify the families of the dead.

Gopal Sengupta
Canada
E-mail: gopalsengupta@aol.com