Students’ anger against Sheikh Hasina’s regime is rising again. While the police released six student leaders of the movement on Thursday, August 1, public opinion is discovering, thanks to the end of the internet blockade, the violence of the police repression that has left at least 200 dead. New rallies took place on Wednesday.
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With our correspondent in Bangalore, Côme Bastin
The leaden pall that has fallen on the Bangladesh silenced the protests for a while. It could also be the reason for their revival. The demonstrations, initially against job quotas in the civil service deemed discriminatory, are now against the illegitimate use of force by the government. Videos of law enforcement, sometimes shooting at close range into crowds, have sparked outrage.
” In addition to the dead, there are hundreds of injured, many in the eyes, due to police shootings. There are arbitrary and mass arrests of innocent people, night raids on homes. Some of us are hiding for fear of being tortured but we continue to organize the movement clandestinely. ” explains Samir, a student and organizer of the movement.
On Thursday, six leaders of the student movement were released by the police, who insisted that they had only used force to protect public buildings. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she was ready for an international investigation into the events.
Samir expresses his skepticism. Many more sordid facts about the government’s repression are yet to be revealed. We implore the international community not to turn a blind eye to human rights violations in Bangladesh. We call for an independent and credible UN investigation. “, adds Samir.
The students set nine requestsincluding a democratic transition and an apology from the Prime Minister.
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