Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged the authorities to stop ‘fake narrative and falsehood’ by suppressing protesters in custody to read out statement to declare the withdrawal of quota reform movement programme.

Condemning the hypocrisy, the German rights body in a statement on Monday mentioned that the forcibly acknowledgment on video message is outright false, flagrant deception, and unconstitutional, strongly condemned the hypocrisy.

TIB further stated that in order to justify human rights violations such as large-scale killings, detentions, and unjust actions carried out by law enforcement agencies backed by ruling party.

“Detective Branch (DB) have employed false narratives that are self-destructive, anti-people, and cruel theatrics which people have no reason to trust,” read the statement.

Citing media report, TIB mentioned that Dhaka alone over 200 cases have been filed indiscriminately against more than 213 thousand people under different police stations if the capital in connection with violence in the movement.

Regarding the suppression, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that mass arrests are going on by law enforcement agencies violating human rights.

“Although the arrest drive in different areas was to ensure accountability of only those responsible for the violences, media reports inform that students, professionals, and common people are being arrested arbitrarily,” he said.

Even incidents like arrests of juveniles of 13 to 17 years of age, along with the general people these are clear violations of the citizens' rights enshrined in the Constitution, according to the rights activist.

TIB chief mentioned that there are allegations of inhumane torture after abductions or arrest, ignoring the clear direction of the High Court, which is a blatant violation of human rights.

“Reminding the law enforcement agencies of their constitutional and professional duties, we want to call upon them to come out of the path of such violations and harassment of people if there is even a minimum respect for their identity as the protectors of the law, not violators,” read the statement.

TIB boss further mentioned that it is unethical and an abhorrent crime to force the coordinators of the movement to read out a statement in under detention following abductions in the DB headquarters in the ridiculous pretext of 'providing safety'.

 “There is no legal basis for 'abduction or detention for safety'. Abducting and detaining students for their role in a fully non-political and peaceful movement for genuine rights is a clear violation of the Article 33 of the constitution,” he said.

Dr Iftekhar mentioned that coercing the coordinators to call off protests by reading out a statement is a violation of the Article 35(4) of the constitution.

“It is not baseless to surmise that such unconstitutional measures are being taken to forcibly deprive the students of their right to dissent and cover up the unprecedented use of force to control protests,” he said.

Dr Iftekhar further stated that the government, while trying to suppress the protests, has been resorting to lies since the very beginning in order to legalize the unaccountable activities including internet shutdowns.

“It is clear that the government failed to comprehend a completely apolitical, peaceful protest and pushed it towards violence by applying force and giving a chance to the state agencies to abuse power,” he added.

TIB urged the authorities to stop actions that violate the constitutional rights of citizens, including mass arrests, arbitrary cases, block raids, abductions, tortures, harassment of citizens, and use of fake narratives to justify the same.