Geneva, Oct 3: The Bangladesh Awami League’s Switzerland branch on Friday organised a protest rally and human chain beside the iconic Broken Chair in front of the UN Human Rights Commission Headquarters in Geneva, condemning alleged killings, terrorism, and widespread human rights violations under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
Protestors accused the Yunus regime of committing systematic abuses, calling for the “rescue of Bangladesh and its people from the grip of the fascist Yunus clique.”
The rally was presided over by Jamadar Nazrul Islam, President of the Switzerland Awami League, and conducted by Shyamal Khan, the organisation’s General Secretary. Addressing the gathering virtually as Chief Guest, Sheikh Hasina, President of the Awami League and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, strongly criticised the interim regime. Other speakers included Nazrul Islam, President of the All-European Awami League, leaders from European Awami League units, and senior figures of the Swiss branch.
At the conclusion of the rally, a memorandum was formally submitted to the UN Secretary-General and the head of the UN Human Rights Commission. An official from the Commission accepted the document. On behalf of expatriate Bangladeshis, the memorandum was handed over by M. Nazrul Islam, President of the All-European Awami League, along with Jamadar Nazrul Islam and Shyamal Khan.
The Awami League stated that the memorandum contained documented evidence of crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the Yunus-led interim government. These included the killing of minorities, attacks on Awami League leaders and activists, and the looting and illegal occupation of their homes and businesses.
The demonstration in Geneva was seen as a significant step by expatriate Bangladeshis to bring global attention to the ongoing crisis, urging the UN to act against human rights abuses in Bangladesh.