The United Nations: A new report from the United Nations Human Rights Office detailed the brutal repression of the demonstrations led by students in Bangladesh last year, accusing the former government of Sheikh Hasina and the security forces for generalized violations of rights of the man who could constitute crimes against humanity.
The report revealed that between July and August 2024, up to 1,400 people were killed, with thousands of other injured, the majority of whom were shot by security forces. Among the victims, the report noted that 12-13% were children. UN investigators revealed evidence that violence was part of a deliberate and coordinated strategy of the former government to maintain power in the midst of mass opposition.
“The brutal response was a calculated strategy and well coordinated by the former government to maintain power in the face of mass opposition,” said UN Volker Turk’s UN Head of Human Rights. “There are reasonable reasons to believe that hundreds of extrajudicial murders, large arbitrary arrests and torture have been carried out with the knowledge, coordination and management of political leaders and senior security officials within the framework of a strategy to remove the demonstrations. “
The demonstrations were triggered by a controversial decision of the High Court to restore a quota system for public service jobs. This decision, which disproportionately affected students from disadvantaged horizons, aroused generalized anger and led to a more important movement which aimed to oust the government of Hasina. However, the demonstrations quickly evolved into a broader outcry against perceived corruption, economic inequalities and political repression, the demonstrators demanding significant political reforms.
According to the United Nations report, the security forces have deployed extreme violence to cancel demonstrations, including the use of live ammunition. The report documents the incidents of deliberate murders, such as the case of Abu Sayed, a demonstrator who was filmed by shouting “Shoot Me” before being killed by the police. Medical evidence has confirmed that Soyed had been shot several times at close range.
Women, in particular protest leaders, were particularly targeted, faced with arbitrary arrests, sexual violence and physical assault in order to dissuade them from participating. In addition, children have not been spared, some young demonstrators killed by gunshots or by the blind use of metallic pellets. A particularly tragic case documented in the report concerned a 12 -year -old demonstrator who died of internal bleeding caused by more than 200 pastilles drawn by the police.
The United Nations report also underlined the obstruction of medical care for injured demonstrators. The security forces interviewed the demonstrators injured in hospitals, seized images of hospital video surveillance and intimidated medical staff, probably in order to remove the evidence of the extent of violence.
In addition, while the demonstrations intensified, the former government has increasingly lost control of the country, leading to an increase in the violence of reprisals. The members of the Awami League party, the ruling party, as well as the security staff, were targeted by violent crowds. Minority groups, including Hindus, Muslims Ahmadiyya and Aboriginal communities from the Chittagong Hill routes, have also suffered violence, many authors remaining unpunished.
The United Nations report urges the government of Bangladesh to face the atrocities of last year, stressing the need for a national process of truth, healing and responsibility. The report calls for urgent reforms in the security and justice sectors, including the abolition of the repressive laws that have been used to silence dissent.
“The best way to follow for Bangladesh is to face the horrible tortes committed during this period,” said Turk. “Responsibility and justice are essential to national healing and the future of Bangladesh.”
In response to the report, the interim government, led by chief advisor Mohammed Yunus, expressed his desire to cooperate with international calls for justice, committing to making the necessary reforms. However, the situation remains tense while Bangladesh continues to fight against the heritage of the violent repression of last year.
