United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned about the targeted violence in Bangladesh against journalists, bloggers, and individuals and calls for steps to put an end to the killings and harassment, his spokesman has said.

“We would like to see the (Bangladesh) Government create an atmosphere in which journalists can operate freely,” Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in response to a question about the “lawlessness” in the South Asian country at the regular noon briefing on Friday.

Last week, the spokesman said the UN chief also voiced his concern over the execution of opposition Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami. In a May 9 editorial, “Bangladesh’s Descent into Lawlessness”, The New York Times blamed the ongoing violence on the ‘bitter rivalry’ between the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Awami League Party and the opposition parties.

“The government must protect those who could be targets and restore democratic freedoms and faith in the rule of law,” the newspaper said. “Failing to do so will accelerate the slide into lawlessness.”

(dailytimes.com.pk)