Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has found ‘acute governance deficits’ behind using force to repress the recent quota reformation movement of the students.

The Berlin-based organisation in a statement on Thursday laid emphasise that peaceful dissent and demonstrations to address demands are constitutional rights, not crimes.

Calling upon the authority to take corrective lessons from the prevailing crisis, the anti-corruption watchdog has also requested for immediately stop repressive measures against the students.

In addition, TIB called for holding a dialogue with the full group of coordinators to develop a mutually agreed road map for enforcement of the government’s commitments.

During and after the quota reformation movement for the government job, the deaths of more than 200 people have been recorded.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that the constitution gives people the right to express dissent, carry out rallies, stage protest, and peaceful demonstration as a part of movement to fulfil demands.

“In fact, we have become the witness of a massive loss of lives and mayhem on the state’s properties revolving around the movement that has been described peaceful by the government itself and this situation manifested the acute lack of good governance and accountability,” he said.

Dr Zaman mentioned that more alarming is that more death news is coming on people including children and teenagers who were not in the protest.

“It is one of the important questions of the time that weather the responsible individuals be held accountable for the death of those died at point blank shooting or at own home or rooftop, along with the death of others,” he added.

The students participated in the peaceful quota reformation movement are constantly under the fear of arrest, abduction, and physical-mental torture, according to media.

The students have been tortured after abduction by the groups identifying as law enforcers; these are clear by the remarks of the students returned. 

In this regard, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that the responsible ones of the government, including the ministers, have admitted that no students have been involved in any atrocities.

“Despite this, illegal abduction of the students by the law enforcement agencies is nothing but a total disregard for the constitutional right to civilian protest and movement. This would not be an exaggeration to say that showcasing the right to expression, protest and movement to fulfil fair demands as a crime, a fearful situation is being created for the the freedom of speech of the general public and the students,” he said.

Demanding that the government must takes steps, Dr Zaman said that the government must immediately accept the legitimate demand of the students while avoiding the path of retaliation and creating an environment for a dialogue.

The government must take the initiative to hold a dialogue with the full group of coordinators of the students involved in the movement, the rights activist made urgency.

“Similarly, to immediately materialize the commitment of the government a unanimously agreed road-map has to be developed to eliminate the prevailing tension and fear.  He also questioned regarding the recent arrest and charges against the protesters and called upon the government not to turn it into a ‘festivity’ of arrest and harassing people,” added Zaman.

Citing the shutting down of internet to repress the movement is a suicidal decision, Dr.  Iftekharuzzaman, said that the way all the citizens of the country have been cut off of the internet service violating the digital rights and detaching from the rest of the world on the subterfuge of the arson attack on the data center.

TIB claimed that the access to internet is not a special opportunity but, in reality, rights- the government entity has started to forget this.

“Financial transactions and the banking system, export businesses have faced massive damage within and outside the country, and people have faced difficulties in accessing essential services like gas and electricity due to the internet service cut off- who will take responsibility for this?,” said Dr Zaman.

 To revive trade and commerce, and ensure the free flow of information, TIB urges the government to immediately resume the internet service of mobile and broadband in full swing.

TIB believes that the current situation has also created an opportunity for the government to engage in self-criticism. Dr Zaman expects the government to seize this opportunity and refrain from employing repressive measures against dissenters, and adopt the democratic and good-governance oriented path.