UNICEF reports 32 children killed, many injured, detained in Bangladesh protests

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 3rd August. UNICEF on Friday said that at least 32 children were killed and many more injured and detained during student protests that erupted in Bangladesh in July.

It said in a press release issued in New York that students in Bangladesh staged massive protests against the Government, demanded an end to a “quota system” for government jobs amid rising unemployment.

According to media reports, over 200 people were killed in clashes with security forces, including bystanders.

The reports stated that the authorities withdrew the system, fresh protests broke out in parts of capital Dhaka on Friday calling for accountability.

Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, returned from Bangladesh, expressed deep concern over the impact of violence and the ongoing unrest.

“UNICEF has now confirmed that at least 32 children were killed during July’s protests, with many more injured and detained. This is a terrible loss.

UNICEF condemns all acts of violence,” he said in a statement.

“Children must be protected at all times. That is everyone’s responsibility.”

Mr. Wijesekera noted reports that children were being detained, and stressed that for a child, coming into contact or conflict with the law can be very frightening.

He called to end to the detention of children in all its forms as per with international human rights law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Bangladesh is signatory

“This means that children should not be arrested or detained based on their mere presence in any location or because of their background, religion, or acts or beliefs of their family members,” he said.

UNICEF stressed that with the outbreak of protests, authorities ordered the closure of schools, caused  about 30 million students from pre-primary to secondary school levels to miss 10 days of school. This compounded the learning losses due to school closures earlier this year because of extreme temperatures, cyclones and floods.

Primary schools are expected to reopen on 4 August in many parts of Bangladesh, but 15.5 million school children will still be unable to resume learning, UNICEF said.

Mr. Wijesekera underscored the importance of reopening schools, resuming learning and reuniting children with their friends and teachers.

“It is one of the best ways to help children recover from violence and to keep them safe,” he said.

He added “the longer children are out of school, especially girls, the less likely they are to return, jeopardizing their future.”