Geneva, Feb 12 (V7N) – The United Nations has released a damning report detailing serious human rights violations and acts of torture committed by Sheikh Hasina and top Awami League leaders during their tenure. The findings were presented at a press conference held at the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva at 2:30 PM Dhaka time on Wednesday.

In his opening remarks, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted the scale of the abuses, stating, "This brutal response was a planned and coordinated strategy by the former government, which sought to hold on to power in the face of popular opposition."

The 114-page report reveals that from July 1 to August 15, 2024, over 1,400 people, including 118 children, were killed amid widespread violence and government crackdowns. The document outlines how security and intelligence forces, operating in coordination with the Awami League, committed grave human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and torture.

The report indicates that these actions were carried out with the knowledge, coordination, and direction of political leaders and senior security officials, describing the response as part of a broader strategy to suppress protests and silence dissent.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has categorized the incidents as matters of concern under international criminal law and has called for further criminal investigations into the abuses. However, the UN has recommended against imposing sanctions on political parties, emphasizing the need for a more holistic approach.

In addition to urging investigations, the UN has recommended the creation of a safe environment for free elections in Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of restoring democratic processes in the country.

While similar UN fact-finding missions have been conducted in other South Asian countries, this marks the first such mission in Bangladesh. The five-member delegation, formed at the invitation of the interim government, began its independent investigation on September 16, 2024. The team traveled extensively across the country, gathering first-hand information and interviewing survivors, witnesses, and representatives from various organizations.

The report was initially scheduled for release on Thursday, but the UN Human Rights Office announced a schedule change on Tuesday, leading to an earlier press conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

In his closing remarks, Volker Türk underscored the gravity of the situation: “There is reasonable cause to believe that the former government engaged in systematic human rights abuses. These actions have severely undermined public trust and democratic institutions in Bangladesh.”

The UN’s findings are expected to have far-reaching implications for Bangladesh’s political landscape and its relations with the international community.

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