In Bangladesh, the government’s handling of mass protests has come under scrutiny as more than 150 student protesters have been killed and thousands arrested in a deadly crackdown. The protests began earlier this month over demands for reforms to the country’s quota system for government jobs. The government has accused “third-party” actors, including extremists and terrorists, of fueling the unrest.
United Nations experts have called for an independent investigation into the government’s crackdown on demonstrators, citing reports of violent attacks and human rights violations. The government has faced criticism for its response to the protests, with calls for accountability and transparency.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Bangladesh’s minister of state for information and broadcasting defended the government’s actions, claiming they had tried to de-escalate the tensions and restore peace. The minister denounced the protesters for storming a state broadcaster’s headquarters and emphasized the need for an impartial investigation into the casualties and deaths.
Protesters have suspended their demonstrations but are demanding public apologies from the prime minister and resignations of key ministers. The situation remains tense as the government and protesters continue negotiations. The international community is closely monitoring the developments and calling for accountability for any human rights violations that occurred during the crackdown on the demonstrations.
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