Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon the government and Jamaat-e-Islami to put an end to the ongoing violence, which sparked off after Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to death Thursday.
Media reports suggest most deaths were at the hands of police, but supporters of the ruling Awami League have also engaged in vandalism and violence, the New York-based rights body said in a press statement yesterday.
The initial information received by HRW suggests that police were responding to attacks by Jamaat members and supporters that resulted in police and civilian deaths, it adds.
HRW says Jamaat has denied being responsible for any lethal violence, but media reports indicate that members of Jamaat-Shibir group were responsible for several attacks, including the ones against Hindus.
“The leadership of Jamaat should immediately issue public statements to its followers to stop these violent, unacceptable attacks,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW.
At the same time, he said, the government should instruct the security forces to exercise maximum restraint and avoid lethal force unless necessary.