CALL FOR UN-LED PROBE
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a “peaceful, orderly and democratic transition” as well as a “full, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into all acts of violence”, his spokesman Farhan Haq said.
Bangladesh’s former colonial power Britain called for the UN to take the lead in an investigation.
“The people of Bangladesh deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement.
The European Union also called for “calm and restraint”.
“It is vital that an orderly and peaceful transition towards a democratically elected government is ensured, in full respect of human rights and democratic principles,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said her country “condemns the human rights violations, deaths, torture, arbitrary arrests and lethal force” used in response to the protests.
“During this transition, we urge all parties to respect and uphold democratic institutions and processes and the rule of law,” Joly said in a statement.
There was no immediate reaction from regional governments to the fall of Hasina, who had sought a delicate balancing act of enjoying support from India while maintaining strong relations with China.
Indian media said that Hasina flew to a military airbase near New Delhi.
A top-level source said she wanted to transit on to London, but it was unclear if she would be allowed.
The US in the past praised Hasina’s economic track record and saw her as a partner on priorities such as countering Islamist extremism and sheltering Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar.
But Washington more recently criticised her for autocratic tendencies and imposed visa sanctions over concerns about democracy.
