The US is monitoring what is happening in the quota movement: Miller
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Photo: Collected
The US Embassy in Dhaka and Washington are keeping a close watch on what is happening in Bangladesh in the student quota reform movement, the State Department said. In addition, spokesperson Matthew Miller commented that the United States continues to convey its concerns on the Bangladesh issue from the podium of the State Department.
This spokesperson said that there can be no direct talk about listing the organization as a banned organization due to the torture and violence that the Chhatra League has been carrying out on students for the past one and a half decades.
Participating in the briefing, State Department Correspondent Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari raised the issue of violence conducted by Chhatra League and law enforcement forces in the ongoing movement of students and wanted to know, 'The ruling government has continued to attack the movement of students in Bangladesh. At least 6 students have lost their lives so far at the hands of government-backed law and order forces. Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student body of the ruling government, is brutally torturing students, especially female students. This organization has been doing such activities for the past decade and a half. Will you list BCL as a terrorist organization?'
In response, Miller said, 'I'm not going to say anything about the issue you mentioned (banning Bangladesh Chhatra League). We have observed the violence that has spread during the student protests in Dhaka. I am once again calling for the movement to be peaceful. At the same time condemn any form of violence in peaceful protests.'
In another question, this reporter wants to know, 'Abu Sayed, a student of the English department of Begum Rokeya University, stood with his chest in front of the police gun during the protest for the safety of his classmates. The police did not hesitate to shoot him. He himself could not understand that the police would shoot him like this while protecting his classmates. After the fraudulent election, Sheikh Hasina has held on to her power by torturing her like this. Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken said, 'The whole world's eyes are on the Bangladesh elections. The United States will take whatever steps are necessary for this election.' But the moment the people's rights are taken away, you become completely silent. Why did this happen?'
In response, Miller said, 'First of all, what you said is not true. We are not silent. You've seen me speak over and over throughout the week. As I said last Monday and I say again today, we condemn any form of violence against peaceful protests.'
He said, 'The US Embassy in Dhaka and our officials from Washington are closely monitoring what is happening in Bangladesh. Students are being killed in protests, people are dying, it is under our watch.'
"We call on the government to respect a citizen's right to peaceful protest," Miller said.
