There have been allegations that police attacked and dispersed the demonstration by the agitated workers from Tazreen Fashion Ltd and teachers from Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa in front of the National Press Club. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) believes that holding peaceful demonstrations and protests are the constitutional rights of every citizen which has also been clearly stated in various human rights instruments. ASK expresses its severe condemnation and protest over such cruel and illegal attack and strongly demands that through fair investigation immediate legal action is taken against those involved.

According to news media reports, the demonstrators have informed them that around half-past three or four at the dawn of 7 December 2020, police suddenly woke up the workers and teachers who had dozed off by throwing water on them. There have been allegations that the police also attacked them with batons while they were sleeping. It is to be noted that the independent Ebtedayee Madrasa teachers had been staging a sit-in in front of the National Press Club for 22 days demanding the nationalisation of the madrasa. On the other hand, workers from Tazreen Fashion Ltd had been protesting for 80 days making a number of demands including bringing a reform in the compensation provision in the Labour Act so as to give proper compensation for injuries sustained during a devastating fire tragedy at the factory.

Article 37 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, Article 20 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 21 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has given recognition to citizens’ right to peaceful assembly. ASK believes that such use of force without trying to resolve the problem through peaceful discussion is not a feature of a civil, humane and basic democratic state. ASK demands to immediately take legal steps against those involved after fair investigation. It also urges to ensure proper medical treatment of those injured.

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