In a damning report released by the United Nations Fact Finding Mission, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been accused of orchestrating a violent crackdown on demonstrators during the July 2024 protests. Senior security officials revealed that Hasina explicitly commanded law enforcement to kill protesters, further documented by her minister’s call for ‘shoot on sight’ orders, actions which starkly contravene international human rights standards.
During a crucial meeting on July 18, the then Home Minister directed the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to unleash lethal force against protesters, highlighting a disturbing pattern of premeditated violence intended to suppress dissent. The report noted that high-level officials coordinated these lethal responses to maintain control over a volatile situation, indicating a systemic approach to human rights abuses.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned these actions as crimes against humanity, advocating for further investigations into the violations committed. Witness testimonies and comprehensive interviews with 230 individuals illustrated a chilling picture of power retention through brutality, with the report estimating around 1,400 fatalities throughout this tumultuous period.
Delving deeper, the report detailed how multiple security agencies, including the police and Rab, systematically targeted innocent protesters. On the evening of July 20, a general curfew was enacted, followed by fatal military interventions, with urban areas witnessing indiscriminate gunfire that resulted in casualties among bystanders, including children.
A forensic examination revealed that military-grade weapons were used extensively against protesters, with 66% of deaths attributed to these rifles, as security forces engaged in lethal fire with little regard for human life. The testimony from injured survivors documented instances of police brutality, casting a haunting shadow over the commitment to basic human rights and civil duties.
The mission identified key players in the human rights violations, detailing collusion between various intelligence and policing units that exacerbated the climate of fear. Tactical internet shutdowns and threats against the media demonstrated an overarching strategy to stifle dissent and dismantle the protest’s momentum, with important aspects of public order management revealing a reliance on lethal measures over humane engagement.
As the report concluded, it strongly condemned the militarisation of policing in Bangladesh, highlighting the significant politicisation of security forces, putting the very foundations of human rights and democracy at grave risk. The call for accountability resonates loud and clear as the curtain lifts on a dark chapter of repression and violence.
A United Nations report has accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of directing a violent response to protests in July 2024, leading to an estimated 1,400 fatalities. Security forces operated with lethal orders, including ‘shoot on sight,’ while agencies collaborated to suppress dissent, showcasing a severe neglect for human rights. The report calls for further investigations into these crimes and emphasises the need for accountability and reform in Bangladesh’s policing practices.
The UN report details grave human rights violations attributed to the former Bangladeshi government, exposing a calculated approach to suppress protests through lethal force. With high-ranking officials implicated, the repercussions raise significant concerns over state accountability and adherence to human rights norms. The need for thorough investigative actions and systemic reforms in the policing of protests emerges as a crucial takeaway from this damning indictment.
Original Source: asianews.network
