Letter to Minister Joly on the alarming human rights situation in Bangladesh

Hon. Mélanie Joly, PC, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sent via email

Dear Minister Joly,

I write to bring to your attention the alarming human rights situation in Bangladesh as well as the disturbing and disproportionate response from the Bangladeshi government.

Students in Bangladesh have been protesting government quotas that result in unfair access to government jobs. Protests by young people, particularly university students demanding a government and bureaucracy based on meritocracy have spread to other members of Bangladeshi society. These citizens have the right to protest and criticize their government, to critique discriminatory policies and practices, and to call on those in power to address allegations of corruption.

The Government of Bangladesh’s response to these protests has been brutal. Protestors have been arrested and there are multiple reports of the beatings and torture of protestors. Furthermore, the internet and other means of communication have been deliberately shut down by the government in an attempt to stifle or disrupt further protests. As a result, worried Bangladeshi Canadians can’t communicate with their loved ones in Bangladesh amid this state-led violence.

Canada must join the other democracies around the world that are calling upon the Government of Bangladesh to allow legitimate protests and criticism, to listen to their citizenry and address their concerns, and to cease the violent repression of the protests.

I urge the Government of Canada to:

• Condemn the brutal repression of peaceful protests by the Government of Bangladesh.
• Press the Government of Bangladesh to restore all internet and other means of communication, both domestically and to the international community.
• Insist that the Government of Bangladesh thoroughly investigate and/or allow internationally recognized third party investigations of those involved in the repression of protestors.
• Call upon the Government of Bangladesh to allow for peaceful protest and ensure that those citizens who choose to exercise their democratic right are not harassed nor harmed, either by their fellow citizens or by government forces and agencies.

New Democrats respect the sovereignty of all international states, but we firmly believe that all people have the right to self-determination and to the freedom of expression, including peaceful protest. The deliberate, forceful repression of dissenting voices by a national government against its own citizens must be condemned.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,
Heather McPherson
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic
NDP International Development Critic