Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Arafat, has defended the government’s response to mass protests in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera. He blamed “third-party” actors, including extremists and terrorists, for fueling the unrest that led to a deadly crackdown on demonstrators.
The protests, which began earlier this month, were sparked by demands for reforms to the country’s quota system for government jobs. The crackdown by security forces has resulted in over 150 student protesters being killed and thousands arrested, leading to international scrutiny of the government’s actions.
United Nations experts have called for an independent investigation into the human rights violations that occurred during the crackdown, with some accusing the government of violent attacks on protesters. The experts, including the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, Irene Khan, have emphasized the need for an impartial investigation conducted with the involvement of the international community.
Minister Arafat denied discriminating between casualties and injuries among protesters, police, and civilians, stating that an independent judicial committee would investigate and hold those responsible accountable. He also dismissed calls for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign, stating she has been “protecting the people.”
Protesters have extended the suspension of their demonstrations but are demanding a public apology from Hasina for the student killings and the resignation of several government ministers. The situation remains tense in Bangladesh as the government and protesters navigate the aftermath of the deadly crackdown.
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