2013 Bangladesh riot

2013 Police riot in Bangladesh started on February 28, 2013 after the announcement of controversial death sentence of Islamist politician Delwar Hossain Sayidee. On Feb 28, 37 protesters were killed by police. Also 800 were injured at that riot. On the following day March 01, the riot continued and 46 more were killed. 98,000 people have been sued for protesting against government. In protest of this riot the opposition party called for a 48 hour nationwide general strike from March 03, 2012. Bangladesh Nationalist Party supported the strike and called for another daylong strike from March 05, 2012. The government imposed section 144 (curfew) in 10 districts and deployed Border Guard Bangladesh across the country to stop the protest. Local medias covering the riot reports have either monitored or banned by the government. As Bangladesh dropped from position 121 in 2009 to position 144 in 2013 on Press Freedom Index for continuous oppression against journalists.
The spokesman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Mirza Fakhrul Islam said, "It was another form of mass killings." Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia said, "This government has surpassed all records of suppressing the opposition. We must protest."
On March 2, Army troops were deployed in northern districts of Bangladesh to counter the riot. 26 people were killed in the first day of 60 hour strike at March 03. The death toll has reached 109, which is higher than 2010 Thai political protests of 91.
Media coverage
Domestic and international media published the news of the riot with high importance.
CNN reported,
BBC quoted,
Al Jazeera headlined,
International concern
The Human Rights Watch reported, "The police in Dhaka and other places used live ammunition against protesters. Media reports suggest that most deaths were at the hands of police, but supporters of the ruling Awami League party have also engaged in vandalism and violence."
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon expressed his deep concern about the matter and said, "The government should instruct the security forces to strictly observe its obligation to use maximum restraint and avoid lethal force unless necessary to protect their lives or those of others. If cool heads don't prevail, Dhaka could dissolve into uncontrolled violence." The U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said, "The secretary-general recognizes the right of people to protest, and it's the responsibility of both the authorities and the people protesting to assure this is done in a very peaceful manner."
Previously, IUMS expressed their concern about the oppression by the government in the statement signed by Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Dr. Ali al-Qaradaghi that, "The International Union of Muslim Scholars is following, closely and with deep concern, the happenings and the latest developments in the Republic of Bangladesh under the current government of violations of human rights, assault on those things which are sacred to the people, and the use of threat, punishment, and imprisonment in order to suppress freedoms. Many people were imprisoned because of their opinions and disagreement with the current government."
The British Hi-commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Gibson said, "I deplore the cruel and unwarranted attacks on places of worship and private property." He added, "This great achievement risks being undermined by the callous and unacceptable actions of a few. While every citizen has the right to mount a peaceful protest, intimidation and imposition of strikes disrupts the lives of all citizens and hampers the operation of legitimate business. This is sending a negative signal to the international community and those wishing to invest in Bangladesh."

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