The Coalition for Human Rights & Democracy in Bangladesh (CHRD Bangladesh) condemns in the strongest terms the violent attacks on the pre-announced peaceful political rallies staged by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which included more than 36 opposition parties in Dhaka on October 28, 2023.
According to credible reports, the ruling regime’s pre-planned barbaric attacks were perpetrated by the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guards and other forces supported by local and Indian intelligence (RAW) units. Authoritarian forces used automatic weapons, tear gas, water cannons, sound bombs, fire bombs etc. on the unarmed people. Places near a police hospital and a public bus were torched by police, as claimed by eyewitnesses. There have been two deaths and thousands have been wounded so far.
Before the opposition rallies commenced, thousands of their leaders, activists and common people were arrested from various locations, as well as from amongst the joining groups. After the rallies were ruthlessly crushed, many of the top opposition leaders, including the Secretary General of the BNP, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have been detained. The opposition parties
The opposition parties had called for a Hartal (a strike) the next day, on October 29. The ruling forces are geared to crush the legitimate opposition challenge, thereby causing further violence and destruction. The regime started a total war against the unarmed political opposition for expressing its political rights.
Earlier, the Secretary General of the ruling Awami League warned the opposition that they would face a worse fate than what the Hefazat-e-Islam did at Shapla Chottor, in a reference to the ruling forces’ brutality on a peaceful rally of the innocent Islamic students and teachers in 2013, killing thousands. Another top leader of the ruling party warned that their cadres would be ready with Logi-Boitha (poles/sticks-oars) on October 28, another reference to the Awami League’s savagery on their adversaries in 2006. The world has seen the fulfillment of their promises on October 28.
The United States condemned the political violence of October 28 and said that it was “unacceptable,” and deserved to be penalized with “possible visa restrictions.”
CHRD Bangladesh reiterates that in Bangladesh few things, certainly not political repressive activities, happen without specific directives from the top authority. As such, the US punitive measures must not spare the chain of command that originates from the top.
CHRD Bangladesh continues to urge the US and other democratic entities around the world that the 15 yearlong illegal ruling regime of Sheikh Hasina is neither capable nor willing to hold a free, fair and participatory election in Bangladesh, the core issue of all. The regime’s violent oppressive action on October 28, as well as many others before, should leave no doubt that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her administration must quit from the government and the next election must be held under a nonpartisan, neutral caretaker authority at the earliest possible. Bangladesh cannot afford any more human loss, miseries and destruction of its national and cherished values under the unelected regime.
CHRD Bangladesh also asks that the authoritarian and unelected Bangladesh regime must stop all repressive operations against the political opposition and unconditionally release all the political prisoners immediately.