Today in Parliament, Abigail gave notice of a motion condemning the violent crackdown on Bangladeshi protesters, celebrating Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as a victory for democracy, and urging Australian support for electoral reform, political prisoner releases, and sanctions on rights violators.
Abigail said:
I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move:
(1) That this House notes that:
- in June 2024, university students across Bangladesh began protesting against the oppressive Bangladeshi government regime and the discriminatory and unjust re-introduction of quotas for 30% of all government jobs to be reserved for the descendants of those who fought in the Bangladesh independence war in 1971,
- student protesters were met with violent force at the hands of Bangladeshi security forces including the imposition of a shoot-on-sight curfew, the suppression of communication channels and media reporting including telecommunications and internet,
- the Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party Bangladesh Awami League which was closely associated with the then-Hasina Government, had instigated and engaged in abhorrent violence against protesters, which the Bangladesh Government failed to condemn,
- the use of any force against protestors by Bangladesh security forces is a violation of international law and must be condemned,
- as the protests evolved into calls for Hasina to resign following ongoing human rights abuses and a failure to uphold democratic principles, Bangladesh security forces responded with heavy-handed and unconstitutional violence including mass arrests through block raids, detaining individuals at night, enforced disappearances and failing to present individuals in court within 24 hours,
- following these developments and after weeks of unrest and significant pressure to step down, on Monday 5 August Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and reportedly fled the country, leaving an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Thousands of people joined together on Monday 5 August in the streets of Lakemba to celebrate this victory for the people of Bangladesh.
(2) That this House congratulates the people of Bangladesh for their fierce activism and unwavering protest, which has paved the way for a future of liberty and justice.
(3) That this House calls on the Australian Government to:
- stand with the people of Bangladesh and advocate for urgent reform of the Bangladeshi electoral process and judiciary system, as well as for independent international oversight to ensure the next Bangladeshi government is formed in a democratic way through a free and fair electoral process devoid of unlawful practices and interference,
- advocate for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including the opposition leader Khaleda Zia, who has been unjustly imprisoned and deprived of her rights, and
- impose targeted Magnitsky-style sanctions against members of the Rapid Action Battalion, and members of the Detective Branch for their ongoing failure to uphold human and democratic rights in Bangladesh.
13 August 2024