UNICEF Voices Dismay Over Escalating Violence Against Children in Bangladesh
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Synopsis
UNICEF has expressed deep concern over a fact-finding report detailing the tragic events in Bangladesh, highlighting the alarming number of casualties, including children, during the political unrest that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. The agency calls for urgent reforms to prevent further tragedies.
Key Takeaways
- UNICEF expresses shock at rising violence against children.
- Report indicates 1400 deaths during unrest.
- Over 100 children among the casualties.
- Experts warn of worsening conditions after Hasina's exit.
- Call for meaningful reforms to protect children.
Dhaka, Feb 13 (NationPress) The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has voiced its profound shock and concern regarding the fact-finding report presented by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) about the tragic incidents that occurred in Bangladesh preceding the so-called ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement,’ which ultimately led to the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina administration in August of last year.
The findings indicated that approximately 1400 individuals may have lost their lives between July 1 and August 15, 2024, with over 100 of them being children.
“We mourn each one of them,” stated UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh Rana Flowers in a statement following the OHCHR report.
The UN agency emphasized that it is imperative for all policymakers, political leaders, and officials in Bangladesh to act swiftly on various fronts to assist children, youth, and families in the nation to heal and progress.
Advocating for meaningful reform, UNICEF insisted that no child, family, or community in Bangladesh should endure such calamities again.
Experts believe that the situation in Bangladesh significantly deteriorated after Hasina's departure and the appointment of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus as the head of the interim government.
Numerous nations, including India, have raised serious alarms regarding the rise in extremist rhetoric, escalating violence, and provocations, particularly against the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
In November 2024, four members of a Hindu family were tragically murdered, including two children and a pregnant woman.
Countless individuals, including children, continue to suffer from the vandalism and mob violence that erupted across Bangladesh following Hasina's exit.
Schools were closed for an extended period, depriving children of their fundamental right to education amidst a severe political and humanitarian crisis.
