UN Secretary-General Urges Collaboration For Peaceful Transition In Bangladesh

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a coordinated effort between Bangladesh’s military and political authorities to ensure a peaceful and democratic transition following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to a statement from his spokesperson.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for Guterres, emphasized on Monday that the UN chief is seeking a collaborative approach among all relevant parties to facilitate a smooth transition. “We want to make sure that all of the authorities, both political and military, work together to ensure a peaceful and democratic transition,” Haq said.

Also Read: President Announces Dissolution of Parliament In Bangladesh to Form Interim Government

Guterres expressed his solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and called for respect for their democratic and human rights. The UN, he added, is actively engaged with regional governments and is in contact with the UN country team in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina’s resignation announce by Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who declare in a national broadcast that oversee the formation of an interim government. “We will form an interim government,” General Zaman stated.

Interim Government

Haq noted that Guterres is closely monitoring the situation, including Hasina’s resignation and the Army Chief’s plans for the interim government. The recent upheaval seen significant violence, with reports indicating that around 300 people, including security personnel, killed and thousands injured or jailed during the unrest.

“The Secretary-General deplores the further loss of life during protests over the weekend, urges calm and restraint from all sides, and continues to call for a full, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into all acts of violence,” Haq said.

The protests initially began with student demands for the abolition of government job reservations for the families of freedom fighters who secured Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan. Despite a Supreme Court ruling reducing these reservations from 30 percent to 5 percent, violence has surged, leading to approximately 100 deaths, including several police officers, over the weekend.

In addition to his focus on democracy and human rights, Guterres remains concerned about the UN refugee program, which supports nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar.