On 29 July 2024, Ms Rupa Huq MP hosted a symposium at the Palace of Westminster to discuss about the recent student movement in Bangladesh and the crime against humanities committed by the current regime. The symposium was held at the initiative of Global Bangladeshis’ Alliance on Human Rights (GBAHR).
Speakers included Mr A K M Zakir Hossain, a Researcher at SOAS and Human Rights Defender from Beyond Barriers International; Sacha Deshmukh, the director of Amnesty International UK; Shamsul Alam Liton, Convenor of the Global Bangladeshis’ Alliance on Human Rights and the Editor of Weekly Surma; Shockat Adam MP of Leicester South; Barrister Toby Cadman, eminent educationalist and civil society activist Taleya Rehman. Among others Barrister Afzal Zami, Eminent journalist Shafik Rehman, David Bergman and award-winning journalist from Al Jazeera investigation unit Zulkarnain Saer also present in the Symposium. Eminent civil rights activist and award-winning photographer Dr Shahidul Alam also joined virtually.
Honourable MP Rupa Haque hosted the symposium and started with a brief overview of the ongoing carnage and crime against humanity committed by Bangladeshi government on her own people since 16 July 2024.
In his keynote speech Zakir highlights the severe political and humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh, triggered by the government’s violent suppression of the “Student Revolution 2024,” a peaceful protest against a public-sector job quota system favouring descendants of 1971 Liberation War freedom fighters. Since July 16, over 266 people have been killed, including children, and thousands wounded or jailed, sparking nationwide unrest and global condemnation. The government’s brutal response, coupled with economic mismanagement and corruption, has galvanized the youth in their fight for fairness, transparency, and democracy, emphasizing the need for international support and advocacy.
Mr Alam told the meeting that Bangladesh was facing its worst time since independence, and the unelected regime continues to suppress dissent with violence. Mr Shamsul Alam Liton stressed the importance of the British government understanding the mood of the new generation of Bangladeshis who would never forget if the UK doesn’t stand by the country in its gravest crisis in the absence of democracy.
Shockat Adam MP’s speech underpins what the UK government should do to deliver justice and emphasised on getting the truth for justice of the massacre. AI’s boss criticised the unlawful and excessive use of force to handle a peaceful protest. He also blamed government for ordering ‘Shoot-on-Sight’ and killing protestors for exercising their human rights. Toby Cadman expressed his concern about a prevailing culture of impunity in Bangladesh and also discuss how this mass killing issue can be taken for ICC trial. Eminent journalist David Bergman expressed his disappointment and pointed on the case of a clear targeted murder of an unarmed student protestor (Abu Sayeed) who was shot from close distance by the uniformed police. This incident is known to everyone through mainstream and social media. However, government recorded a general diary where the whole story is manufactured to accuse general student.
The meeting was concluded with the following questions for UK government:
- We would want a British parliamentary fact-finding commission to visit Bangladesh with incorporating legal staff/lawyers.
- We would demand downgrading of diplomatic relations with the Regime.
- We would demand an immediate full stop to security assistance including training of Bangladeshi forces in England including RUSI/Sandhurst training. 41 students were shot in the head and killed by thunderbolt sniper rifle supplied by UK this was confirmed by Aljazeera journalist present in the hall.
- A reference from the UK govt to the UN Peace Keeping Operation DPKO informing UK government what they are doing to screen out human rights violators in Bangladesh from gaining UN employment.
