Referring to Sunday’s foiled Awami League rally, Amnesty International today called on Bangladeshi authorities to protect the rights of all people, regardless of their political beliefs.

In a social media post posted from the X handle of the rights organization’s South Asia regional office, Amnesty said: “The authorities must swiftly and impartially investigate and hold accountable the perpetrators of attacks on individuals believed to be be part of Awami League at Zero. Period Sunday.”

“Attacking people for their political beliefs is a violation of their right to freedom of expression and association, and the authorities must take steps to protect and promote these rights of all people, regardless of their political affiliation,” the statement said.

Awami League leaders and activists could not hold an event at Zero Point in the capital’s Gulistan on Sunday amid strong resistance from students and activists of various political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Students and political activists beat up at least 10 people, including two women, in Gulistan area, suspected to be members of AL and its front organizations.

The party led by Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in a mass student-led uprising on August 5, announced the event as part of their “restoration of democracy” programme.

Around 42 people, including nine women, were detained during AL demonstrations in Motijheel and Paltan areas, media reported.

The caretaker government said it would not allow a fascist party to hold a political program and said such an event would be policed.

“Police also conducted raids in various areas of the capital the night before and arrested more than 50 AL activists, accusing them of ‘creating anarchy in the name of protests,'” said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. , for The Daily Star.