Death of Bangladeshi student in US: Human chain demands justice

Demanding justice over the killing of Bangladeshi-origin Sayed Faisal, a Cambridge resident and a student of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, a human chain was held in front of the foreign ministry in Dhaka today.

A Cambridge police official shot and killed an allegedly armed Faisal on January 4, prompting dozens to protest police brutality and call for transparency at Cambridge City Hall on January 5.

The protest comes when the US National Security Council's Senior Director for South Asia Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher is scheduled to hold meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen at the foreign ministry.

She is on a four-day visit to discuss security, Rohingya crisis and other bilateral issues.

Journalist and columnist Ajay Das Gupta said it is very unfortunate that the US police shot dead a Bangladeshi who was not found guilty of any crime.

"We want justice for him," he said.

He said there are many incidents of human rights violations and racial violence taking place in the US but they are advising other countries on human rights.

"We don't want human rights violations in our country. But if there is, we will take action ourselves, not on the advice of others," Ajay said.

Dhaka South City Corporation councillor Hasibur Rahman Manik said they want justice for Faisal. The foreign ministry should take action in this regard, he added.

When asked about the matter, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said the US has a good judicial process and the authorities there will surely take action.