Escalating Terror and Killings in Bangladesh Worries UN, Human Rights Commissioner Asks For Investigation

Dhaka: Following the recent violence and killing of people from the minority community in Bangladeh, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Monday has called for an ‘investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crimes.’

The UN also has expressed concern over the escalating number of murders and violence that have affected the ‘climate of free expression’ in Bangladesh.

Reports are that terrorist group and militants have killed more than 30 people in the country, all form either religious minority group or bloggers who expressed freedom of speech and expression.

Al Hussein had addressed a long opening speech at the Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday while noting that, “I am very concerned about the dramatic increase in number of brutal murders in Bangladesh that target freethinkers, liberals, religious minorities and LGBT activists. All government officials, political and religious leaders to unequivocally condemn these attacks on freedom and to do more to protect affected groups.”

Bangladesh has been witnessing a series of brutal killings from February last year. The government has detailed more than 3200 people across the country claiming they are militants. However, the  Sheikh Hasina government said in a reply to UN’s release that they ‘does not need any help from any foreign country or government to protect members of its minority communities.’