Bangladeshi community protests in Brussels over human rights abuses

Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A protest in Brussels by the Bangladeshi community slamming police violence and government repression against student protesters.

What sparked the Brussels protest?

Today on August 1, 2024, around 2 O’clock there was a significant protest by the Bangladeshi community in Brussels in front of the European Parliament. The demonstration was organized in response to ongoing human rights concerns in Bangladesh. The protesters urged increased international scrutiny and action to address alleged human rights abuses, Their main demands were particularly linked to freedom of expression, press freedom, and political repression.

How did protestors voice their concerns?

Protestors were chanting and demanding the European Union to “save our students and save Bangladesh.” The protest attracted participants from various Bangladeshi community organizations and activists. 

What was Abu Sayem’s statement?

One of the protestors, Abu Sayem, a Bangladeshi-origin Barrister-at-Law in England and Wales, said, ‘The Bangladeshi regime is killing our students. Many students have been brutally murdered, and the violence is ongoing. The Prime Minister must resign. We will not go back home unless PM Hasina resigns.’ 

“He thanked Josep Borrell for criticizing and highlighting the atrocities in Bangladesh. As the EU Foreign Policy Chief, Borrell condemned the use of excessive force against protesters and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.”

What did banners and signs convey?

They carried banners and signs highlighting their demands and delivered speeches advocating for greater European Union involvement in addressing these issues. “One of the banners read: ‘Quota or Blood? Solidarity demonstration for Bangladeshi students fighting for their rights.'”

The event was also aimed at raising awareness among European policymakers and the public about the situation in Bangladesh.

What violence occurred in Bangladesh?

According to sources, a wave of fresh violence has broken out in Bangladesh between police and student protesters urging justice for victims of recent unrest. Clashes were reported in the capital Dhaka and other cities. In the north-eastern city of Sylhet, an official declared demonstrators had struck police who in turn used tear gas.

More than 200 people have lost their lives in this month’s violence, mostly as a result of police outset fire. Nearly 10,000 people have reportedly been imprisoned. “March for Justice” was called by the Pupils Against Discrimination movement.

They stated they were demonstrating against “mass killings, arrests, seizures, and disappearances of pupils and people”. Students have been protesting against endeavours to reinstate quotas in civil service jobs for relatives of vets from the country’s war for independence from Pakistan in 1971 for more than three weeks.

Organisers have demanded an apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and for six ministers to resign over deadly clashes at the resulting protests. The government blames the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami Party for the unrest.

The European Union has postponed talks with Bangladesh on a new cooperation agreement after criticism of the government’s crackdown.