The United Nations Human Rights Office has unveiled a comprehensive report detailing severe human rights violations in Bangladesh, stemming from the protests of 2024. This meticulously crafted document draws from over 250 personal interviews with affected individuals, witnesses, medical personnel, and state officials, alongside a wealth of digital evidence and countless submissions from Bangladeshi citizens seeking justice.
By piecing together these testimonies, the report reveals an alarming state-sanctioned strategy aimed at violently quelling anti-government dissent, signalling potential crimes against humanity that demand urgent inquiry. This investigation was prompted by a request from Mohammed Yunus, Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, who sought UN assistance following student protests in mid-2024.
On 16 September, the UN dispatched a fact-finding team, bolstered by experts in forensics, weaponry, and gender studies, to investigate the crux of the protests. Travelling to key protest sites, university grounds, and hospitals throughout Bangladesh, the team meticulously gathered over 900 personal accounts while absorbing the palpable tension in the air during those tumultuous days.
The riots traced back to the High Court’s controversial reinstatement of a public job quota system, but they were deeper, reflecting widespread discontent over a corrupt political landscape that exacerbated economic disparities. To maintain its grip on power, the prior government resorted to increasingly brutal tactics against dissenters.
The report estimates a staggering death toll of around 1,400 individuals between July and August, with countless others injured, primarily at the hands of security forces. Disturbingly, approximately 12-13 percent of the deceased were children, while police records indicate that 44 officers also lost their lives amid the chaos.
In reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Alexander El Jundi, chief of the Investigation Support Section, remarked that seasoned human rights experts employed rigorous methods to conduct interviews and evaluate the extensive information gathered, underscoring the diligence of the investigation.
The UN Human Rights Office released a report revealing systematic human rights violations in Bangladesh during the 2024 protests. Based on over 250 interviews, it highlights an official policy of violence against dissenters, with an estimated 1,400 deaths. The protests, sparked by a contentious job quota reinstatement, exposed deep-rooted grievances against a corrupt political system. The report calls for urgent investigations into potential crimes against humanity.
The UN report exposes a distressing chapter in Bangladesh’s recent history, marked by violent suppression of dissent and human rights violations. The unsettling findings urge immediate action and further scrutiny into the alleged crimes against humanity, highlighting the critical need for accountability and reform within the Bangladeshi government. Furthermore, the tragic loss of life, particularly among children, underscores the urgent humanitarian crisis stemming from these events.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
