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The Government of Bangladesh has taken note of a statement made by Sanjay Wijesekera, the UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, which was highlighted in various media reports on Friday (2 August).
In his statement, Sanjay Wijesekera mentioned, “UNICEF has confirmed that at least 32 children were killed during the protests in July. Additionally, many children were injured and many were detained.”
The Government of Bangladesh currently has no information on the deaths of 32 children. Moreover, the UNICEF Regional Director’s statement does not cite any reliable sources, nor does it include the names, identities, profiles, or a list of the deceased. However, if UNICEF provides a list of the 32 children along with reliable sources, the Government of Bangladesh will take appropriate action. The government does not condone any loss of life, especially that of children, and will ensure justice through an independent judicial commission for each death related to the protests.
The UNICEF statement also mentions the unlawful detention of children. In this regard, the government's clear position is that law enforcement agencies have not knowingly detained any children unlawfully. Moreover, if any errors have occurred, the government has instructed immediate corrective actions as soon as they are identified.
It is noteworthy that the issue of a 17-year-old boy being brought under the law in connection with the case of police officer Gias Uddin’s murder during the quota reform protests in the Jatrabari area of Dhaka has been discussed. According to the law enforcement agencies, this teenager was the 16th accused among the 17 individuals charged in connection with the murder of a police officer opposite Matuyail Hospital during the recent quota reform protests. The court has ultimately canceled the remand application and ordered that the boy be sent to the Gazipur Juvenile Development Center, providing facilities according to the Child Act.
The Government of Bangladesh, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is always highly sensitive to the rights and welfare of children and is committed to protecting them. The government is also committed to adhering to any international laws, charters, or declarations concerning children’s rights. The government has strongly condemned and expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate deaths of a few children during the recent quota reform protests and is working with the highest priority to bring the perpetrators to justice. At the same time, the government urges both domestic and international organizations not to be misled by any misinformation or rumors regarding the number of child deaths.
Messenger/Shahed
