UN Human Rights Office Expresses Concern Over Violence In Bangladeshi Elections

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th January, 2019) The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday expressed concern about violence and the alleged human rights breaches during the elections in Bangladesh, as many people were killed and injured on the polling day.

"We are concerned about violence and alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh before, during and after the recent elections on 30 December. There are credible reports of fatalities and numerous injuries on polling day alone. There are worrying indications that reprisals have continued to take place, notably against the political opposition, including physical attacks and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests, harassment, disappearances and filing of criminal cases," OHCHR spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

OHCHR went on to urge the Bangladeshi authorities to thoroughly investigate human rights violations and stick to the rule of law.

On Sunday, Bangladeshi citizens elected 300 members of the country's unicameral legislature. The country's Election Commission said that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's governing alliance won the election receiving 287 seats in the country's 300-member parliament.

The elections were troubled by the clashes between representatives of various political forces in the Bangladeshi cities of Chittagong, Comilla, Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Rangamati. At least 17 people were killed and over 60 others were injured in the unrest.

Kamal Hossain, the leader of Bangladesh's Jatiya Oikya Front opposition alliance, stated that the Bangladeshi opposition did not recognize the election's results and requested to hold another election.