EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TALKS BANGLADESH ISSUES TODAY

Fresh polls, freedom of expression on agenda

A resolution has been tabled in the European Parliament, strongly urging the Bangladesh government to initiate dialogue with all democratic parties to ‘restore’ the democratic process by way of holding a credible, genuine, transparent and inclusive election. It also called on the government to accept the call for a national dialogue from opposition political parties and civil society organisations on the current crises.
The resolution on ‘Freedom of expression in Bangladesh’, tabled on Tuesday on behalf of a parliamentary group, asked of the European Union to review its trade relations with Bangladesh until it ensures the ‘return of democratic governance in the country.
It also asked the EEAS (European External Action Service) and the EU delegation, as well as Member State delegations, to use all available instruments to ensure the respect of human rights and the rule of law in Bangladesh, including the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.
The resolution urged the EU, in line with its Strategic Framework on human rights and democracy, to immediately raise the above concerns and recommendations with Bangladeshi authorities.
“(European Parliament) is seriously concerned with the violations of freedom of expression and free media coverage in Bangladesh; Strongly condemns the attacks on publishers, bloggers and activists and deplores the loss of lives; Strongly condemns the recent killing of foreign citizens,” said the resolution.
It strongly called on Bangladeshi authorities to launch a credible and transparent investigation into the killing of publishers, bloggers and activists as well as foreign nationals to identify perpetrators of such heinous crimes and bring them to justice.
The resolution urged the government to launch an investigation into the extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances of opposition political activists in the country and called for the release of all opposition political leaders that have been illegally detained for participating or being thought to be participating in protected speech and assembly.
Six other separate resolutions on the same issue (were tabled on behalf of different parliamentary groups with different demands and issues.
In most of the resolutions on the same subject (freedom of expression in Bangladesh), European Members of Parliament condemned the attacks on bloggers, writers, publishers and foreigners, and called upon the government to bring the perpetrators to justice.  
These resolutions will be debated urgently and voting will take place today in the European Parliament to pass or reject a single resolution drafted from all these seven resolutions.
Another resolution tabled by another group expressed the parliament’s serious concern about the increasing attacks of Islamist extremists against secularist writers, the Shia minority and foreign aid workers and extends its condolences to the bereaved families.
It deeply regretted the execution of Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, re-iterated its opposition to the death penalty as a cruel and inhumane punishment as well as its reservations concerning the legal standard of the procedures of the International War Crimes Tribunal.
The resolution also called for an urgent clarification of the whereabouts of members of the opposition who have disappeared over the last few years and an independent investigation into allegations of extra-judicial killings, particularly during the events in the months leading up to and subsequent to the January 2014 elections.
It called on the government to ensure that all human rights and civil society groups are able to work in a climate free of fear and repression.
The resolution urged the government to ensure that members of political parties are free to exercise their democratic right to speech and assembly and immediately charge or release members of opposition parties who have been jailed for the peaceful exercise of such rights.
Another resolution called upon the authorities to restore the full independence of the media by, inter alia, dropping all charges against editors and journalists who have published content critical of the government, to allow the immediate opening of all media houses which were shuttered, and to immediately restore full and unhindered access to all forms of publications, including electronic ones.
Supporting the government in its efforts to defend a pluralist, secular state against murderous attempts by Islamist, jihadist groups to undermine these principles, another resolution urged all political parties and their leaders to unequivocally and unreservedly condemn the extremist violence and to support the right to freedom of expression.
It, however, hailed the enhancement of security and law enforcements measures such as the establishment of additional police check-points and strengthening the capacity of the police force and other law enforcement agencies.
“(European Parliament) believes that it is the state’s duty to ensure that journalists, civil
society actors and human rights defenders are able to exercise their right to freedom of expression safely,” it added.

 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TALKS BANGLADESH ISSUES TODAY

Fresh polls, freedom of expression on agenda

A resolution has been tabled in the European Parliament, strongly urging the Bangladesh government to initiate dialogue with all democratic parties to restore the democratic process by way of holding a credible, genuine, transparent and inclusive election. It also called on the government to accept the call for a national dialogue from opposition political parties and civil society organisations on the current crises. The resolution on Freedom of expression in Bangladesh, tabled on Tuesday on behalf of a parliamentary group, asked of the European Union to review its trade relations with Bangladesh until it ensures the return of democratic governance in the country. It also asked the EEAS (European External Action Service) and the EU delegation, as well as Member State delegations, to use all available instruments to ensure the respect of human rights and the rule of law in Bangladesh, including the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. The resolution urged the EU, in line with its Strategic Framework on human rights and democracy, to immediately raise the above concerns and recommendations with Bangladeshi authorities. (European Parliament) is seriously concerned with the violations of freedom of expression and free media coverage in Bangladesh; Strongly condemns the attacks on publishers, bloggers and activists and deplores the loss of lives; Strongly condemns the recent killing of foreign citizens, said the resolution. It strongly called on Bangladeshi authorities to launch a credible and transparent investigation into the killing of publishers, bloggers and activists as well as foreign nationals to identify perpetrators of such heinous crimes and bring them to justice. The resolution urged the government to launch an investigation into the extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances of opposition political activists in the country and called for the release of all opposition political leaders that have been illegally detained for participating or being thought to be participating in protected speech and assembly. Six other separate resolutions on the same issue (were tabled on behalf of different parliamentary groups with different demands and issues. In most of the resolutions on the same subject (freedom of expression in Bangladesh), European Members of Parliament condemned the attacks on bloggers, writers, publishers and foreigners, and called upon the government to bring the perpetrators to justice. These resolutions will be debated urgently and voting will take place today in the European Parliament to pass or reject a single resolution drafted from all these seven resolutions. Another resolution tabled by another group expressed the parliaments serious concern about the increasing attacks of Islamist extremists against secularist writers, the Shia minority and foreign aid workers and extends its condolences to the bereaved families. It deeply regretted the execution of Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, re-iterated its opposition to the death penalty as a cruel and inhumane punishment as well as its reservations concerning the legal standard of the procedures of the International War Crimes Tribunal. The resolution also called for an urgent clarification of the whereabouts of members of the opposition who have disappeared over the last few years and an independent investigation into allegations of extra-judicial killings, particularly during the events in the months leading up to and subsequent to the January 2014 elections. It called on the government to ensure that all human rights and civil society groups are able to work in a climate free of fear and repression. The resolution urged the government to ensure that members of political parties are free to exercise their democratic right to speech and assembly and immediately charge or release members of opposition parties who have been jailed for the peaceful exercise of such rights. Another resolution called upon the authorities to restore the full independence of the media by, inter alia, dropping all charges against editors and journalists who have published content critical of the government, to allow the immediate opening of all media houses which were shuttered, and to immediately restore full and unhindered access to all forms of publications, including electronic ones. Supporting the government in its efforts to defend a pluralist, secular state against murderous attempts by Islamist, jihadist groups to undermine these principles, another resolution urged all political parties and their leaders to unequivocally and unreservedly condemn the extremist violence and to support the right to freedom of expression. It, however, hailed the enhancement of security and law enforcements measures such as the establishment of additional police check-points and strengthening the capacity of the police force and other law enforcement agencies. (European Parliament) believes that it is the states duty to ensure that journalists, civil society actors and human rights defenders are able to exercise their right to freedom of expression safely, it added.