Dhaka, Mar 10 (V7N) – The Bangladesh Army has stated that it is not aware of any indication or message from the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding its role in the student-public movement of July-August 2024, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday.

The response comes after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk claimed in a BBC Hard Talk interview on March 5 that the UN had warned the Bangladesh Army against involvement in the movement, cautioning that any engagement in violence could jeopardize the army’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions.

The ISPR statement, sent to the media, clarified:

  • The Bangladesh Army has not received any official indication or message from the UN regarding its involvement in the July-August protests.
  • If any concerns had been raised, they should have been directed to the then Bangladesh government, not the army.
  • The army operates under national security guidelines while maintaining respect for human rights and the rule of law.
  • Some misinterpretations of Volker Türk’s comments are circulating, potentially creating misconceptions about the army’s role and professionalism.

The statement further emphasized that during the protests, the Bangladesh Army remained neutral, ensuring public safety without external influence. It reaffirmed the army’s commitment to upholding human rights, valuing its strong relationship with the UN Human Rights Commission, and welcomed constructive discussions to clear any misunderstandings.

This development adds to the ongoing debate over the military’s role in past political unrest, as well as Bangladesh’s relations with the UN on human rights and peacekeeping commitments.

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