Human rights activists and researchers at a discussion on Wednesday called on the interim government to hold probe into incidents of killing, injury and detention of children during the street protests since the middle of July for reform of the quota system in government jobs.
Child and Human Rights Activists Forum in collaboration with LEEDO and Human Rights Development Centre organised the event at Dhaka Reporters Unity, said a press release.
The forum convener and LEEDO executive director Farhad Hossain urged all to identify the culprits and bring them to justice.
Secretary general of the HRDC Md Mahbul Haque urged the interim government to form a fact-finding team under the international experts to conduct investigations to identify the facts for ensuring justice and human rights for children and all others.聽
Speakers said that UNICEF had now confirmed that at least 32 children were killed during July鈥檚 protests, with many more injured and detained.
But the actual number was much higher than the government figure.
Quoting newspaper reports, they said that from July 15, 2024, to August 1, 2024, at least 135 children were detained in the jail.
鈥楢s Bangladesh is a prior signatory country of UN human rights charter as well as UN child rights convention, we have to obey the rules and regulations of these very important charters,鈥� said Mahbub.
The forum members demanded publishing detained, wounded and dead children鈥檚 real numbers, conducting independent and impartial investigations into all alleged human rights violations against the children鈥檚, holding those responsible accountable, and providing redress to victims.
Among others, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust legal adviser SM Rezaul Karim and Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Foundation chairman Mahbubul Haque spoke at the event.
