Bangladesh’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting has defended the government’s handling of extensive protests, while United Nations (UN) experts have called for an independent investigation into the government’s deadly use of force against demonstrators. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Mohammad Arafat stated that the country’s security forces have done everything possible to “restore peace” amid student protests. Arafat accused “third-party” actors, including “extremists and terrorists,” of exacerbating the unrest. “We do not refer to the students as terrorists and anarchists. It is the third parties, those who have intruded into this movement and started all this,” Arafat said.
Earlier this month, Bangladeshi students protested for reforms to the country’s quota system, which allocates 30 percent of government jobs to descendants of veterans who fought for Bangladesh during the 1971 war of independence. According to local media reports, over 150 student protesters have been killed, and thousands have been arrested in the crackdown on demonstrations, escalating tensions in a nation with more than 170 million people.
The protests turned violent on July 15 when members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) – the student wing of the ruling party – reportedly attacked the demonstrators. The police responded swiftly by suppressing the protests and imposing curfews. Students were asked to leave universities, which were closed, and businesses were shut down while internet access was disrupted nationwide.
The Bangladeshi government has faced international criticism for its handling of the protests. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called for an “impartial, independent, and transparent investigation into all alleged human rights violations” that occurred during the crackdown.
Arafat criticized the protesters for storming the headquarters of the state-owned television station, Bangladesh Television (BTV), in the capital Dhaka. He noted that the police guarding the building were outnumbered and were not permitted to open fire, which allowed “miscreants” to invade BTV, set fire to the building, and destroy property.
Arafat stated that the government has yet to establish an official death toll from the unrest. “When it comes to victims, injuries, and fatalities, we are not willing to discriminate between the police and ordinary citizens, the protesters, or those from the government’s supporters,” he said.
Minister Arafat explained that an independent judicial committee will ensure a thorough investigation into what happened, “so that all those responsible for any of these victims can be held accountable.” He also dismissed any calls for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign, adding that she has only been the “protector of the people.”
On Tuesday, the protesters suspended their demonstrations until Friday but were set to meet on Thursday to discuss whether to extend the break further. Among their primary demands is a public apology from Hasina for the killings of students. They have also called for the resignation of Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, and Justice Minister Anisul Haque from the cabinet and the ruling party.