Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain has stated that the interim government seeks a neutral investigation by the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission into the killing of protesters involved in the anti-discrimination student movement.
He made this remark during a press briefing on Thursday afternoon (15 August) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a meeting with the United Nations Resident Representative, as well as the Ambassadors of Russia and Japan.
The adviser mentioned that the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission is in Bangladesh primarily to assist the government in ensuring a thorough investigation, so that those responsible for the crimes can be brought to justice.
He emphasised that the current government's stance is unequivocal: both the perpetrators of these crimes and those who issued orders must be held accountable. The government has taken a policy decision to involve the United Nations in this process, while the remaining aspects will be coordinated by three ministries.
In response to a query about the Mission conducting an independent investigation with its own funding, the adviser acknowledged that funding is not the only factor. While the Mission should operate independently, their security must also be considered, which inevitably requires some degree of reliance on the government.
He reiterated that the government is committed to ensuring a transparent investigation, which will form the basis for legal actions. The government aims to act in full accordance with the law.
When asked whether the government would cooperate with the Mission in conducting an impartial investigation, he affirmed that every effort would be made to ensure a neutral investigation, one that is credible globally.
He noted that the situation is such that any action might attract criticism, but the government is determined to facilitate a completely impartial investigation and will provide all necessary cooperation to achieve this.
