Dhaka, May 14 (V7N) – The High Court has issued a rule asking why the recently released UN fact-finding report on the July-August uprising should not be declared a historical document and preserved for future generations.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Assaf passed the order on Wednesday after hearing a supplementary petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Tanvir Ahmed.

The rule also questions why an order should not be given to preserve the UN report as an official record for its historical significance and research value.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, petitioner Tanvir Ahmed said, “I filed a writ last August regarding the prosecution of those responsible for the genocide and dictatorial actions. The court issued a rule at that time, and since then, progress has been made—the tribunal has been re-established, the law has been amended, and an investigation and prosecution team has been formed.”

He added that the UN report, which mentions that 1,400 people were killed, provides a comprehensive account of the violence, political context, and justice mechanisms during the uprising. “It is a proper and complete report,” he said.

According to Tanvir Ahmed, the report should be preserved for three key reasons:

  1. Historical record – to inform future generations.

  2. Evidentiary value – for use in ongoing and future trials.

  3. Academic relevance – to aid international research.

He noted that the tribunal has already accepted the report, but filed the application with the High Court as it is the court of record.

The court’s rule marks a significant move towards recognizing the UN document as part of Bangladesh’s formal historical and judicial archives.

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