Photo: Collected
The UN wants an investigation into the shooting of students during the quota reform movement in Bangladesh. The agency said the UN would try its best to do so if any country requested to investigate. If the UN wants to conduct its own investigation, it will need the approval of the organization’s Legislative Board.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said these things in response to a journalist’s question at the regular briefing of the United Nations on Wednesday.
In response to a journalist’s question, UN spokesperson Stephen Dujarric gave a brief statement on the situation in Bangladesh. He said that despite the political situation and violence, the humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh is ongoing. I can tell you that despite the political situation and violence we have seen, and it is important for everyone, that the humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh is ongoing. We and our partners continue to help people affected by several emergencies, including Cyclone Remal. This year, 1 crore 3 million people have been affected by Cyclone Remal. Despite operational challenges such as internet shutdowns, bank closures and curfews, our partners continued their work. Last month, we and our partners launched $80 million in funding under the Humanitarian Response Plan to 1.2 million people.
Only 18 percent of the funding has come through in this appeal so far. 7.5 million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund on June 5 to provide relief to the cyclone victims. On the other hand, another 6.2 million dollars was released from the Central Emergency Response Fund on July 4. It is given to provide cash to the communities living in the Yamuna Basin. In Cox’s Bazar, Myanmar refugees are doing a lot of humanitarian work. They are being helped.
After Dujarric’s speech, the journalist wanted to know – repression is going on in different parts of Bangladesh on protesting students. Have the ruling authorities there sought UN assistance in investigating state-controlled institutions, and will the UN provide any assistance in their investigation? Because they lack impartiality in this investigation.
In response to this question, Dujarric said, there are several points in your question. If any government seeks our help in various issues we are always ready to help them and we do the investigation in the best possible way. An independent inquiry into these matters requires the approval of the legislative body of the agency. After that, the journalist asked him – you talked about the journalist who was killed in Gaza. Recently three journalists have been killed in Bangladesh. Many were arrested. No one knows where they are kept. A colleague of mine named Saeed Khan is among them. No one knows where he is.
Dujarric said, “We condemn the scene of firing by the government of Bangladesh that we have seen.” Governments, be it in Bangladesh or anywhere else, should protect people’s right to peaceful protest. The rights of journalists should be protected so that they can do their work freely.