New interim govt must prioritise human rights, not repeat mistakes of the past: Amnesty International

Any new interim government in Bangladesh must prioritise human rights, show solidarity with its people, protect the most vulnerable, and not repeat mistakes of the past, Amnesty International has said.

“The first order of business for any interim government should be to ensure protection of people’s right to life, right to free speech and peaceful assembly and to find ways of de-escalating any potential for further violence”, Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International Smriti Singh on Tuesday said in reaction to the announcement that a new interim government is to be formed following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid mass protests in Bangladesh.

Any measures proposed to move forward from this deadly chapter in Bangladesh’s history need to be rooted in the principles of justice, accountability, and non-recurrence, she said.

Smriti Singh called for the establishment of a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the human rights violations in the last three weeks that have led to the death of more than 300 people, with thousands injured and arbitrarily arrested.

“Those found responsible must be held accountable and the victims of the violence should receive full reparations from the state, which includes compensation, rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition”, she added.