Smoke rises over protest-torn Dhaka. UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh: Situation in the country remains highly uncertain Peace and Security
The situation in Bangladesh remains highly uncertain, and this uncertainty will persist until a transitional government is formed, UN Resident Coordinator in the country Gwynne Lewis said via video link from Dhaka.
According to Lewis, the UN is doing everything it can to help normalise the situation in Bangladesh. She echoed the Secretary-General’s call for “calm and restraint” and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ call for “an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the events of recent weeks, to hold those responsible to account and to restore trust in society.”
“We wrote to the government last week calling for restraint and an end to the violence and killings,” Gwynne Lewis said. “There have also been a lot of arrests and we have made our views known. The situation is changing now and a new government could be formed in the near future. The UN has a huge range of technical and other operational support tools and we will continue to provide assistance to the people of Bangladesh.”
The UN has a wealth of experience in areas such as supporting transitional justice, institutional reform and security sector reform, she said.
“There are many areas where we can contribute to development and I hope we will continue to work effectively with the people of Bangladesh to ensure a brighter future for all,” Gwynne Lewis concluded.