Nepali human rights and civil society activists were stunned and shocked by the use of unlawful force against quota reform protesters in Bangladesh.

They staged a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh embassy in Kathmandu on Wednesday, protesting the indiscriminate killings of students by Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies, reporyts MyRepublica.

Holding various placards, the activists demanded the right to assemble peacefully, an end to the suppression of freedom of expression, and accountability for the killings and other incidents in Bangladesh. Hundreds of people, mostly students, have died, and thousands have been injured in anti-quota reform protests in the country.

The activists expressed deep disturbance over the unlawful killings, potential enforced disappearances, torture, and detention of thousands of people. They were alarmed by reports of targeted attacks, threats, intimidation, and retaliation by authorities and government-aligned groups against protesters, political activists, human rights workers, and journalists.

"Given the extremely repressive nature of the Bangladeshi authorities' response to the protests, we are alarmed and concerned that the withdrawal statement by one group of student coordinators, made while in police custody yesterday, was done under duress,” said the Nepali activists in a statement.

They strongly condemned the ruthless crackdown on protesters, the deployment of the army, and the government's issuance of shoot-on-sight orders. They also criticized the curfew and the nationwide shutdown of internet access, which continued for more than a week.

Amnesty International's verification and analysis of the limited video and photographic evidence that emerged from Bangladesh clearly show incidents of the lethal use of assault rifles and pellet guns by law enforcement agencies against the protesters and the dangerous use of tear gas in enclosed spaces. There has also been a clear failure to provide medical assistance to the wounded and attacks within hospitals by government-aligned groups.

"The Bangladeshi authorities have shown an absolute intolerance of dissent. This must end, and it is high time that world leaders and the United Nations do everything in their power to end the violence against those exercising their right to protest. Furthermore, at a people-to-people level, Bangladeshis need our solidarity. The lack of this solidarity made it difficult for the stories of government suppression to be disseminated outside of Bangladesh during the long period of communications shutdown,” the statement added.

Their demands include an immediate end to the violent crackdown, the release of all protesters, ensuring full accountability for human rights violations against protesters along with due process, lifting the shoot-on-sight order, fully restoring internet access across the country, and ending the use of the army and paramilitary forces in the policing of protests.