Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called for a UN-led investigation into violent protests in Bangladesh, following “tragic” loss of life which saw the resignation of the country’s prime minister.
Sheikh Hasina’s decision to step down and leave the South Asian country ends her 15-year premiership, after protesters clashed with security forces and pro-government activists in a row over a quota system for government jobs.
In a statement, Mr Lammy said the UK and Bangladesh have “deep people-to-people links and shared Commonwealth values”.
All sides now need to work together to end the violence, restore calm, de-escalate the situation and prevent any further loss of life
Foreign Secretary David Lammy
He added: “All sides now need to work together to end the violence, restore calm, de-escalate the situation and prevent any further loss of life.
“The people of Bangladesh deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks.”
He described violence in Bangladesh as “unprecedented” with “tragic loss of life” as he set out the UK’s ambition for Bangladesh to reach a “peaceful and democratic future”.
Protests at Dhaka University in the country’s capital began peacefully, as students called for an end to a quota system for government jobs.
The government attempted to quell demonstrations with force, curfews and internet shutdowns, which backfired, according to the Associated Press news agency.
The violence which followed led to nearly 300 deaths, with 100 killed on Sunday when protesters clashed with security officials.
The 76-year-old prime minister of Bangladesh left her role over the protests on Monday, having led the country since 2009.
Bangladesh’s military chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced plans in a televised address to seek the president’s guidance on forming an interim government.
“Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish the responsible,” Gen Waker-uz-Zaman said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer is “deeply saddened by the violence we’ve seen in Bangladesh in recent weeks”.
He said: “It’s obviously escalated in recent days. A very significant loss of life, including of students, children and law enforcement officers is completely unacceptable.
“The right to peaceful protest must be protected and never subjected to violence, and we call on the authorities to release all peaceful protesters and ensure due process is followed for those charged and prosecuted.”
The spokesman also said: “I hope that swift action is taken to ensure that democracy prevails and accelerate the process towards peace and security to people in Bangladesh.”
On Sunday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for “accountability for human rights violations”, a move he described as “crucial”.
He described the violence as “shocking” and added: “The Government must cease targeting those participating peacefully in the protest movement, immediately release those arbitrarily detained, restore full internet access, and create conditions for meaningful dialogue.
“The continuing effort to suppress popular discontent, including through the excessive use of force, and the deliberate spread of misinformation and incitement to violence, must immediately cease.”