SAN
JOSE, Calif., Aug. 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- In light of the ongoing and escalating violence in
Bangladesh, where mass communal
attacks are being perpetrated against minority communities, the
Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) issues this
urgent call to the global community to intervene and halt the
humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
Bangladesh has descended into
chaos following the fall of the Awami League government on
August 5, 2024. Hooligans are
lynching people and attacking the country's minorities throughout
the nation.
Over the past weeks, the minorities in Bangladesh have faced unprecedented levels of
violence, resulting in loss of lives, widespread displacement, and
destruction of property. The situation has deteriorated to a point
where immediate international intervention is necessary to prevent
further atrocities and restore peace and stability.
Despite these severe attacks, the Bangladesh Army, now in charge
of the country under directives from the President of Bangladesh, has not intervened to restore law
and order, given that the police forces are nearly defunct. This
inaction by the country's army has exacerbated the vulnerability of
the affected communities, leaving them without protection.
The situation of Bangladesh's
minorities has been precarious, with all previous governments of
Bangladesh having let down the
country's minorities, which comprise 8% of the country's
population. On February 1, 2022,
HRCBM submitted information (ref OTP-CR-12/22) for investigation
before the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal
Court (ICC) regarding ongoing genocidal crimes against the
country's minorities and subsequently filed a writ (6355 of 2023)
before the Bangladesh Supreme Court. HRCBM also submitted a
communication (A/HRC/52/NGO/279) on the issue to the UN.
Given the ongoing atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh and the recent mass rampage,
lynching, and pillaging of minorities across the country in the
absence of a formal government, HRCBM strongly condemns these
heinous acts of violence and calls upon the international community
to take the following actions:
- Immediate Cease of Violence: We demand an immediate
halt to all acts of violence against minority communities in
Bangladesh. The perpetrators must
be held accountable to ensure justice for the victims and to deter
future violence.
- United Nations Special Session: We urge the United
Nations to convene a special session dedicated to the crisis in
Bangladesh. This session should
focus on immediate interventions to protect vulnerable populations,
restore order, and lay the groundwork for long-term peace and
reconciliation.
- International Humanitarian Assistance: We appeal to
governments, international organizations, and NGOs to provide
urgent humanitarian assistance to those affected by the violence.
This includes medical aid, shelter, food, and psychological support
to help victims recover and rebuild their lives.
- Fact-Finding Mission: We call for an independent
international fact-finding mission to be dispatched to Bangladesh to investigate the root causes of
the violence and recommend actionable solutions to prevent future
conflicts.
The world cannot stand by as innocent lives are lost and
communities are torn apart. We must act now to prevent further
suffering and to uphold the values of human rights and dignity for
all.
We urge the UN, global leaders, and the international community
to take immediate and decisive action to address this crisis.
Media Contact:
Dhiman Chowdhury
4084646804
381574@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities
(HRCBM)