At least 32 children have died in recent violence in Bangladesh, the government has responded to a statement by Sanjay Wijesekera, South Asia Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
This information was disclosed in a press release from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday (August 3).
It is said that the statement given by Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF South Asia Regional Director yesterday (August 2) has come to the attention of the Bangladesh government from the news reports published in various Bangladeshi media.
Sanjay Wijesekera's statement said UNICEF had confirmed that at least 32 children had been killed during protests in July. Besides, many children were injured and many were detained.
The government of Bangladesh has no information about the death of 32 children at the moment. Moreover, the statement by UNICEF's regional director for Asia did not mention any reliable sources of information and did not mention names, identities, profiles or lists of victims. However, the Bangladesh government will take appropriate measures in this regard if the list of 32 children deaths is provided by UNICEF with reference to reliable sources of information.
It is said that even one unwanted death of people of Bangladesh, including children, is not desired by the government and the government will ensure justice by investigating every death in violence centered on the quota movement through an independent judicial commission.
It is also said that the UNICEF statement also mentions the issue of illegal detention of children. The government's clear statement in this context is that the law enforcement agencies did not knowingly detain any child illegally. Further, instructions have been given to take appropriate action as soon as it is known that there is any mistake in this regard.
It is said that in the case of the murder of policeman Ghiyas Uddin in the capital's Jatrabari due to the violence of the quota movement, the issue of bringing a 17-year-three-month-eight-day-old teenager under the law, the statement of law and order forces is that this teenager was recently on the opposite side of Matuail Hospital during the quota reform movement. Accused number 16 out of 17 accused in the case of killing and hanging a policeman. Finally, the court canceled his remand application and ordered him to be sent to the Child Development Center in Gazipur by providing facilities according to the Children's Act.
It is also said that the Government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has always been very sensitive towards children and determined to protect the rights of children. The Government of Bangladesh is also committed to complying with any international law, charter or declaration regarding children. The government has strongly condemned and expressed deep sorrow over the accidental killing of some children in the violence surrounding the recent quota agitation. Besides, it is working with the highest priority to bring the murderers of children under justice. At the same time, the government is urging domestic and international organizations not to be misled by any misinformation or rumors about the number of child deaths. #