Transparency International Bangladesh on Thursday called upon the government to immediately stop repressive measures against students and announce acceptance of all their legitimate demands.
In a statement, the organisation condemned the use of force to repress the student-led quota reform movement for government jobs.
It highlighted the unprecedented death and havoc exacerbated by the wrongdoings of certain groups during the movement, which depicts acute governance deficits. The organisation emphasised that peaceful dissent and demonstrations were constitutional rights, not crimes.
It also called for a dialogue with the full group of coordinators to develop a mutually agreed roadmap for enforcing the government鈥檚 commitments. TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman mentioned that the peaceful movement, which began with logical demands, suddenly turned violent and bloody one due to provocation from high-level government leadership.
鈥楾he constitution gives people the right to express dissent, carry out rallies, stage protests, and peaceful demonstrations as part of a movement to fulfil their demands. We have witnessed a massive loss of lives and damage to state properties surrounding the movement,鈥� he said.
The statement criticised the judicial commission鈥檚 decision to only investigate the six deaths that occurred on July 16.
鈥楽o, are the rest of the lives worthless? Should we accept dying by bullets at home as normal events?鈥� the statement questioned.
Iftekharuzzaman noted that government officials, including ministers, had admitted that no students were involved in atrocities.
Despite this, he condemned the illegal abduction of students by law enforcement agencies, calling it a total disregard for the constitutional right to civilian protest and movement.
He also questioned the recent arrests and charges against protesters, urging the government not to turn it into a 鈥榝estivity鈥� of arresting and harassing people.
The organisation also urged the government to immediately resume mobile data and broadband internet services in full swing.