UN expresses alarm over rising violence in Bangladesh

New Delhi: The United Nations has voiced serious concern over the recent surge in violence in Bangladesh and emphasized the need to ensure safety for all citizens, including minority communities.

Speaking at a regular press briefing at UN Headquarters on Monday, Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said the organization is closely monitoring the situation. He noted that reports of violent incidents, including mob attacks, have raised alarm within the UN system.

Responding to questions from journalists regarding attacks on minorities, particularly the reported lynching of a Hindu man, Dujarric stressed that people belonging to minority groups must feel secure, regardless of where such incidents occur. He underlined that the right to safety applies to all Bangladeshis without exception.

“We are confident that the authorities will take necessary steps to protect every individual in the country,” he said, reaffirming the UN’s expectation that the government will act to prevent further violence.

Separately, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, urged restraint and appealed for calm, warning that cycles of retaliation (over the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, prominent leader of Bangladesh’s 2024 student-led uprising) would only erode fundamental rights and further destabilize the situation.

The UN has called on all stakeholders to avoid violence and uphold human rights as Bangladesh navigates this period of heightened tension.