Normalcy to return in a short time
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heads of international aid agencies, including US Ambassador Peter Haas, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma, Canadian High Commissioner Lilly Nichols, and acting Australian high commissioner Nardia Simpson, were present.
The foreign ministry also screened a documentary on the violence and the destruction of public properties. Over 100 people were killed, and hundreds of others injured in the violence.
On Friday night, the government declared curfew and deployed army personnel across the country in aid to the civil administration to maintain law and order.
Yesterday, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court annulled the judgement of the High Court and set 93 percent recruitment in public service on merit and 5 percent quota for children of freedom fighters, martyred freedom fighters, and Biranghans, 1 percent quota each for ethnic minorities, and physically challenged and third gender.
At the briefing, some diplomats condemned the violence and expressed concern over the blackout of internet, said a diplomatic source.
On Saturday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed deep concern over the escalating civil unrest and violence in Bangladesh.
“We call on all parties to cease violence and resolve differences peacefully. Australia supports universal human rights, including the right to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest,” she said in X.
In a statement, Catherine West, parliamentary under secretary of the state at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, said the UK government is deeply concerned by the violence following the protests in Bangladesh.
“The UK supports fundamental freedoms and respect for human rights, including the right to protest and peaceful assembly. We urge all sides to end the violence and find a peaceful way forward,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Other countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, also issued statements.
Hasan said the government made it clear from the outset of the protest that its own position on the reform was mostly aligned with that of the demonstrators and assured them of due actions once the Supreme Court delivered judgement on the matter.
The government made room for peaceful assembly and protests, but the anti-liberation, anti-state elements and religious extremists, including BNP-Jamaat-Shibir clique, took advantage of the situation by infiltrating the protest and turning it extremely violent and destructive, he said.
Unfortunately, nothing proved enough to stop the spread of violence as the BNP-Jamaat took over the protest from the innocent students and resorted to their old tactics of killing, arson, and vandalism, he added.
Hundreds of law enforcement agency members were injured, and some died from their indiscriminate attacks during clashes. Even journalists were not spared, he added.
The pattern of the destructions indicates that the criminals systematically targeted some important public infrastructure, Hasan said.
“The government hopes that the judgement of the Appellate Division will end the quota-related dispute,” he said.
He said mindful of the host country’s obligations under the Vienna Convention, the government is committed to ensuring safety and security of the diplomatic and consular premises and persons.
The foreign ministry yesterday arranged the issuance of curfew passes to the mission officials.