The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has strongly condemned the alleged forced detention of quota reform movement leaders by the Detective Branch (DB) and the coercion to read withdrawal announcements via video messages.
In a statement issued on Monday (29 July), TIB labeled these actions as blatant lies, deceitful, and unconstitutional.
TIB criticised the government, the ruling party, and state agencies for their continued false statements, which aim to legitimise rights violations, including mass casualties, indiscriminate lawsuits, and arrests by law enforcement during the movement’s suppression. They warned that DB's falsehoods were self-destructive, anti-public, and cruelly dramatic.
According to media sources, recent violence linked to the quota reform movement has led to over 200 cases filed in various police stations in the capital, involving more than 213,000 accused individuals. A mass arrest campaign is ongoing, with ordinary citizens being harassed and arrested without any connection to the violence.
TIB’s Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman pointed out that despite the claim of arresting only those involved in violence, students, professionals, and even innocent people, including minors aged 13 to 17, are being arrested and handcuffed in court. This is a clear violation of citizens' constitutional rights, as well as human rights, with reports of inhumane torture during remand despite clear directives from the higher courts, he said.
Iftekharuzzaman urged law enforcement to respect their constitutional responsibilities and professional oaths, and to stop harassing citizens and oppressing students.
He condemned the forced detention of movement leaders and coercion to announce withdrawal of the movement’s programme, calling it unethical and a heinous crime.
He also noted that such actions have no legal basis under the guise of "protective custody" and violate Articles 33 and 35(4) of the constitution.
Iftekharuzzaman further accused the government of attempting to legitimise various unaccountable actions, including internet shutdowns, through false statements since the beginning of the movement.
He said the government’s failure to understand a completely non-political and peaceful movement led to the misuse of power by state agencies, driving the situation towards violence. He demanded an end to the mass arrests, indiscriminate lawsuits, block raids, harassment of ordinary citizens, and false narratives.
He also called for a halt to efforts to forcibly present a false sense of normalcy and the cessation of such self-destructive actions.
