They urged for urgent actions to create an enabling climate to ensure safety for people in the elections.

‘The increasing restrictions on freedom of expression combined with election-related violence and the rise of fundamentalism have together created a climate of fear in Bangladesh, which needs to be urgently addressed by the authorities,’ the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights Karima Bennoune said on behalf of eight experts, according to a news released by the United Nations Human Rights Council on its website on December 20.

‘Taken together, recent developments raise serious concerns about whether the elections can be conducted in a free and fair manner,’ they said, adding a call on the authorities to stem the tide of violence as a matter of urgency, and to demonstrate their commitment to human rights and to truly free and fair elections.

They voiced their fears that the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh may trigger renewed violence against opposition figures and secularists, and attacks against members of religious minorities, their homes, temples and sources of livelihood.

Bangladesh authorities required to ensure the safety of all people during this turbulent time, and to create an enabling climate for a much-needed public debate, they said.

Security forces reportedly arrested and intimidated opposition figures and dissenting voices, they said, adding that members and supporters of opposition parties were arrested, killed and also subject to forced disappearance.

Reports state that supporters of the ruling party were involved in some of the incidents, they said, ‘even one of the Election Commissioners has expressed the view that he does not believe there is any level playing field at all in this election.’

The experts’ concerned also underscored the attack on the motorcade of opposition politician Dr Kamal Hossain on December 14, which reportedly left at least 25 persons injured.
Between December 9-12, forty seven incidents of violence were reported in which eight people were killed and 560 hurt.

They also urged the authorities to allow for and encourage monitoring of the human rights situation by civil society in the lead up to, during and after the elections.

They also expressed concerns over the rise of religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh during the polls.
They were troubled by reports that the two main political parties have sought to appease or cooperate with fundamentalist groups.

‘In the run-up to the vote, religious minorities, especially Hindus, fear renewed targeting,’ they said, ‘Unfortunately, these fears have a strong basis.’
The experts voiced concerns at the use of surveillance, intimidation, and politically motivated prosecution of key opposition members.

They were particularly concerned at the use of the Digital Security Act to criminalise journalists and anyone using social media freely expressing their views, and the impact it has on the public’s right to know which is of paramount importance in an election context.