Shabab Junayed

In this leaked #Bangladesh government letter to Mr Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, dated 29 July, we find the fully formed narrative of the Bangladesh Government in seeking to minimise its role in the killings of students/ protestors/onlookers as well as placing all blame for the killings/violence on a "third force" involving "opposition political parties, religious extremist groups, and banned terrorist outfits". There is nothing much new in the letter that we have not heard from the Government already in press conferences/interviews etc, although, it is notable that the government is stating that only "147" people died (an apparently clear underestimate of the actual numbers of dead) and it is concerned about the UN human rights organisation, of "aligning with the internationally financed and mobilized smear campaign being conducted against Bangladesh's security and law enforcement agencies." I will be writing later on how this government narrative does not align itself with the evidence of what happened. Here are the key points in the letter: - "the movement was eventually infiltrated by third forces' comprising elements from some opposition political parties, religious extremist groups, and banned terrorist outfits. The third forces were led once again' by the BNP-Jamaat (Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) alliance, along with their respective students wings. These forces seized the opportunity to misguide the protesting students by spreading misinformation. fanning provocative slogans and rhetoric, and inciting sporadic clashes and violence in certain University campuses. The situation soon exacerbated to the extent that some lives were unfortunately lost and certain egregious brutalities occurred under the cover of the students ...... From this point onwards, the situation went outside the control of the protesting students and was effectively taken over by the aforementioned third forces to unleash a reign of terror, mayhem and anarchy. " - These "opposing political and extremist forces managed to launch orchestrated attacks against some Key Point Installations" ... - the government "has confirmed [on Sunday 28th] that 147 valuable lives were lost, including those of students. police personnel and working people., mostly during the terrorist activities." - "Government authorities have formed separate inquiry committees to unearth the facts behind the incidents of killings, violence, arson and vandalism, and to identify those responsible. ... The government has given assurance to the people that those found to be involved in the terror attacks would be brought to justice through the due process of law." The letter also asks for the following three points to be given "due consideration" by UN human rights bodies - the need for a "clear distinction made between the weeks-long students' movement and the terrorist activities that were perpetrated by the said third forces taking advantage of the situation. - in the "interest of conducting the ongoing judicial and administrative investigation/ inquiry processes, it would be appreciated if the Oftice and the related UN Human Rights mechanisms could refrain from making any conclusive statements that may otherwise influence or shape public perception, including in the international media." - it would be "expected of the [UN Human Rights] Office not to make sweeping comments about the independent judiciary and professional security sector in the country by way of joining certain local and international entities to malign and weaken these critical State institutions. It would be regrettable if OHCHR were to be considered to be aligning with the internationally financed and mobilized smear campaign being conducted against Bangladesh's security and law enforcement agencies with the ulterior motive of creating political and social upheaval in the country."