UN rights chief Volker Turk urges a swift, impartial investigation into the killing of student protest leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka
GENEVA: The United Nations human rights chief has voiced alarm at the killing of Bangladesh student protest leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for a swift and impartial investigation into the attack.
Hadi, a key figure in last year’s pro-democracy uprising, was shot by masked gunmen while leaving a mosque in Dhaka last week.
He was initially wounded and flown to Singapore for treatment but succumbed to his wounds on Thursday.
“I urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Hadi’s death,” Turk said in a statement.
He also called for due process and accountability for those responsible.
Turk urged calm as protesters rallied across Bangladesh for a second straight day, demanding the arrest of the gunman.
“Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,” he warned.
With parliamentary elections scheduled for February, Turk stressed the need for a safe environment for public participation.
He said it was vital to ensure individuals could participate safely and peacefully in public life.
People must also be free to express different views, he added.
“I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time,” the rights chief said.
He also called for measures to prevent further escalation of unrest. – AFP
