The Fossil Free Japan coalition stands in solidarity with the student and youth protestors of Bangladesh in their call for equal access to employment, and with the citizens of Bangladesh facing grave human rights violations amidst the politicization of the protests.
We strongly condemn the violence with which peaceful protests have been met in Dhaka, and the human rights infringements carried out across Bangladesh in an effort to silence these protests. We are deeply concerned about the shrinking civic space in Bangladesh. Deploying the military and the use of firearms, which have resulted in over 150 deaths, and shutting down an entire country’s means of communication to silence student protests are not the acts of a democratic government.
We demand the Government of Japan to use its close relations to urge Bangladesh to end the violent suppression of expression and to restore freedom of communication and movement in the country. Japan, the largest so-called development partner to Bangladesh, benefits from its close diplomatic relationship with the country. However, the silence maintained by the Japanese government in the face of deadly violence and an unprecedented communications blackout is deafening. A true neighbor and partner should stand up for the people of Bangladesh.
We call for an immediate end to the violent responses to the protests, respect for the rights of students and all citizens to express themselves without fear of repercussions, and the restoration of Bangladeshi citizens’ freedom of communication and movement.
We stand in solidarity with the protestors, citizens, and civil society of Bangladesh.