Dhaka, Aug 30 (V7N): The United Nations will dispatch a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in the coming weeks to investigate allegations of human rights violations connected to the recent student protests. This mission comes in response to an official request from Bangladesh's interim government Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, inviting an impartial investigation into abuses reported between July 1 and August 15.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, confirmed today that the fact-finding team will examine the violations and misconduct reported during the protests, assess the underlying causes, and provide recommendations aimed at achieving justice, accountability, and long-term reforms. The interim government and security forces have committed to fully cooperating with this mission.

Previously, the International Crimes Strategy Forum (ICSF) had called on the UN to include both pre- and post-August 5 incidents in its investigation. A letter from the ICSF to High Commissioner Volker Türk highlighted concerns that the Interim Government's Law Advisor, Dr Asif Nazrul, proposed limiting the inquiry to events up to August 5.

An advance team visited Bangladesh from August 22 to 29, engaging with protest leaders, many of whom faced detention or injury, as well as meeting with key figures such as the chief justice, police and military officers, and human rights advocates. Discussions focused on the investigation's approach, addressing recent violence and unrest, and exploring broader issues like civic space, truth, justice, and reconciliation.

END/MSS/