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The United Nations has called on the Bangladesh government to ensure the right to peaceful protest and take necessary steps to address public grievances amid ongoing demonstrations by garment workers demanding higher minimum wages.
At a regular UN press briefing on Tuesday, a Bangladeshi journalist raised concerns over the ongoing labour unrest in Bangladesh and asked about the position of UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the situation.
Responding to the question, UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said governments in every country must ensure that people have the right to demonstrate peacefully.
He also stressed the importance of listening to people’s grievances and taking initiatives to address them.
The journalist noted that garment workers in Bangladesh had taken to the streets demanding an increase in the minimum wage.
At the same time, the ousted Awami League was allegedly exploiting the labour protests to carry out vandalism, acts of violence and attacks on law enforcement personnel.
The journalist sought to know the UN chief’s position on the situation, particularly amid concerns over the alleged involvement of political elements in the unrest.
In response, Dujarric reiterated that the fundamental responsibility of every government is to uphold the right to peaceful assembly while addressing the concerns raised by citizens.
The UN’s remarks underscore the importance of protecting peaceful demonstrations and ensuring that public grievances are addressed through appropriate measures.
