The nationwide quota reform movement culminated in the fall of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. However, in an attempt to suppress the movement and prevent the collapse of her government, a wave of killings was unleashed.
As the movement intensified with the loss of numerous lives, the former prime minister was eventually forced to flee the country.
For the past two months, covering July and August, a United Nations fact-finding team has been stationed in Dhaka to investigate the killings that occurred during the mass uprising.
The team has been conducting its investigation quietly and is yet to complete its work, even after more than a month of operation.
Officials have indicated that the investigation may take longer to conclude.
Moreover, even after the current team completes its mission, additional UN teams may be deployed in the future to continue the inquiry.
Anahita Ahmed, spokesperson for the UN Office in Bangladesh, said that the current team arrived from Geneva. Initially, a scoping mission was conducted, tasked with mapping out the scope of work. The current team has now taken over to carry out the investigation, collecting and documenting all relevant information.
While some members have already departed, others remain on the ground, working as per the scope and demand of the investigation. The exact duration of their stay remains uncertain, as it depends on the volume of cases and complaints they receive. The investigation is ongoing, and their stay will be determined by the scale of data and allegations that are submitted.
Ahmed further added that the team is operating with utmost confidentiality, maintaining strict discretion regarding their sources and the individuals they are investigating. This is to ensure they remain neutral and that their work proceeds without obstruction.
When asked how many investigators are currently working in the country, she responded that such information was unavailable.
"We, the staff at the UN coordination office, have had no direct contact with the fact-finding team," she noted.
In response to a query about whether another team might be deployed once the current investigation is concluded, Ahmed remarked, "There are multiple layers of information involved. The government presents one version, and the coordinators provide another. All this data must be carefully scrutinised. If you look at other global investigations, you’ll see that they are never completed in a single mission. Often, investigations are broken down into multiple volumes – Volume 1, Volume 2, and so on. Whether the current mission suffices depends on the team’s findings. If they receive more complaints or gather more information than anticipated, further missions might be necessary. At this point, it's impossible to predict when the investigation will conclude."
The UN team has advised the public to submit their complaints and information to a designated address.
However, questions remain as to whether this information has successfully reached Bangladesh’s most remote regions. It’s much easier for a resident of Dhaka to submit a complaint than someone in a distant district town.
The success of the investigation hinges on the collection of information from all areas.
The fact-finding team has been assigned to investigate human rights violations between 1 July and 15 August. They will review the root causes of these incidents and provide recommendations for long-term measures to ensure justice and accountability.
Earlier, on Tuesday, 17 September, the UN investigation team began its probe into human rights violations during the student-led uprising.
A three-member delegation met with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, officially commencing the team's activities.
"We want them to conduct a neutral investigation," at the time, the adviser told journalists.
According to sources, the fact-finding team is tasked with uncovering the truth, identifying those responsible, analysing the root causes of human rights violations, and issuing specific recommendations to prevent future violations in Bangladesh.
Over the course of one month, the team is expected to interview victims, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, and eyewitnesses.
Following field examinations and data analysis, the UN Human Rights Office will publish a detailed report containing the main findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
