EP upset with situation in Bangladesh

Special Correspondent

The European Parliament (EP) delegation for South Asia has expressed “deep concern” over the spiralling political violence in Bangladesh.
In a statement, Chair of the delegation Jean Lambert termed the current situation “profoundly disturbing”.
She said, “Basic freedoms, including freedom of assembly, speech, and movement have to be respected by all political forces, without exception”.

The delegation “strongly hopes that Government and Opposition will both demonstrate maximum restraint what has been lacking so far”.
“….a true willingness and responsibility to engage in genuine dialogue in order not to further endanger Bangladesh’s democratic course and development”.
Khaleda Zia’s BNP has been enforcing a Bangladesh-wide blockade since Jan 5 after police prevented her from leading street protests against her archrival Sheikh Hasina.
But the blockade has triggered ripples of violence that has left more than two dozen people killed and scores injured in acts of arson and bomb explosions.
BNP was planning to observe Jan 5 as ‘Democracy Murder Day’ to mark a year of the 2014 elections they boycotted.

Source: Weekly Holiday