Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Arafat, defended the government’s handling of mass protests in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera. He blamed “third-party” actors, including extremists and terrorists, for fueling unrest and denied calling the students terrorists. The protests, demanding reforms to the quota system for government jobs, turned violent with the student wing of the ruling party allegedly attacking the protesters. The government crackdown resulted in over 150 deaths and thousands of arrests, sparking international scrutiny.
United Nations experts called for an independent investigation into the human rights violations during the crackdown, urging the government to take responsibility and hold perpetrators accountable. Arafat, in response, stated the government had yet to determine an official death toll and promised an impartial investigation by an independent judicial committee.
Protesters have suspended activities in hopes of discussion and resolution, demanding apologies from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the student deaths. Additionally, they called for the resignation of key government ministers. The situation remains tense and precarious, with the possibility of further escalation if demands are not met. International oversight has been suggested to ensure a fair investigation and accountability in the wake of the violent crackdown on demonstrators.
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