Urgent Appeal: Mass Communal Attacks Against Minorities in Bangladesh

URGENT APPEAL - HRCBM

BGD 001/2024
Mass Communal Attacks Against Minorities in Bangladesh
August 6, 2024

The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bangladesh.
Details on attacks are available at https://www.hrcbm.org/wp-new/mass-communal-attacks-against-minorities-in-bangladesh/
Description of the situation:
HRCBM has been informed of widespread mass communal attacks taking place against minorities across various regions in Bangladesh.
According to the information received, there have been numerous reports of coordinated attacks on minority communities, including murders, arson, looting, and physical assaults. These attacks have resulted in significant destruction of property, displacement of families, and injuries. In some cases, the perpetrators have threatened local community leaders and activists who have attempted to document or report these incidents.
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.
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 powerful army has exacerbated the vulnerability of the affected communities, leaving them without protection and legal recourse.
HRCBM is deeply concerned by these widespread communal attacks, which contravene the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998. Additionally, the UN has a responsibility to invoke special procedures for intervention when a country descends into chaos and anarchy takes hold in a member state. We believe the situation in Bangladesh warrants immediate intervention from the UN and the international community.
Action requested:
Given the current lack of functional government in Bangladesh, HRCBM urgently requests that you write to the UN Secretary-General, urging the UN to convene a special session to address the crisis. We seek a resolution to deploy peacekeeping forces to restore law and order in Bangladesh. The ongoing chaos necessitates immediate UN intervention. Additionally, please request immediate assistance from the President of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Army.
UN Special Procedures for Intervention:
The UN can deploy peacekeeping forces, provide humanitarian aid, and conduct international mediation through Security Council resolutions and special sessions to address urgent crises.
Addresses:
• António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations, NY, USA. Email: sgcentral@un.org
• General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Army Headquarters, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka - 1206, Bangladesh, Email: ps_pso@afd.gov.bd, ps2psoafd@gmail.com
• Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of Bangladesh, Banga Bhavan, Dhaka, Phone: 02226638160-169. Website: President of Bangladesh
• Ambassador, Mohammad Ziauddin, Embassy of Bangladesh, 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA, Email: bangladesh@bdembassyusa.org, Fax: +1 202 244 5366
• Please also write to the embassies of Bangladesh in your respective country.
Kindly inform HRCBM of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
HRCBM is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
To contact HRCBM,
E-mail: info@hrcbm.org
web: https://www.hrcbm.org

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This release was published on openPR.