UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday (3 March) expressed hope that their recent independent fact-finding report would serve as a catalyst for truth-telling, accountability, reparations, healing, and reform in Bangladesh.
Speaking at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk emphasised the necessity of ensuring due process in criminal cases and investigating acts of revenge violence, including those targeting minority communities.
Reflecting on last year’s turmoil, Türk described how Bangladesh witnessed a “paroxysm of violence” as the then-government “brutally suppressed” a student movement advocating for human rights.
Now, as the country embarks on a new chapter, he described the UN’s independent investigation into these grave violations as an “important contribution” to the journey towards justice and reform.
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Gwyn Lewis informed Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday (2 March) that Türk will present the findings of the report to member states on 5 March during the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.
Yunus underscored the necessity of documenting all “atrocities” committed under the ousted regime of Sheikh Hasina, including the violent crackdown on protesters at Shapla Chattar, police brutality following the verdict against Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, and the widespread extrajudicial killings over the years.
“There is a need for proper documentation of all atrocities committed against the people of this country. Without such records, it is difficult to uncover the truth and ensure justice,” the chief adviser stated during a meeting at the state guest house Jamuna with UNRC Lewis and Senior Human Rights Adviser at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh, Huma Khan.
In a separate development, Türk also raised concerns over the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, describing 2024 as the deadliest year for civilians since the military coup four years ago.
Speaking in Geneva, he detailed how the military, as its grip on power weakened, intensified brutal attacks on civilians, including retaliatory airstrikes, artillery shelling of villages and urban areas, arbitrary arrests, and forced conscription of thousands of young people.
“I urge the international community to take decisive action to halt the supply of arms and financial resources that enable the military’s vicious repression,” Türk stated, reinforcing the call for global intervention to curb the ongoing violence.
