UN rights chief urges Bangladesh leaders to east unrest

December 03, 2013 - Deeply worried by rising levels of violence in Bangladesh, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Sunday urged the country's political leaders to set their differences aside, immediately halt what she described as "destructive brinkmanship" and use their influence to ease the unrest. According to a press release issued by Pillay's Office, in recent weeks, as the major parties in Bangladesh have failed to resolve their differences over the conduct of elections, supporters of both parties have been clashing with each other and with the security forces. Scores of people have been killed, hundreds injured, and there has been extensive destruction of property. Bangladesh's 18-party opposition coalition confirmed on Monday it would boycott a general election scheduled for January, making the announcement hours before the nominations deadline and plunging the country into renewed political uncertainty. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced the decision amid growing street violence that has left 51 people dead since late October and a string of strikes that have paralysed large parts of the country. (Source: UN)