A team of UN experts will visit Bangladesh next week to investigate the killings of protesters before and during the violence. After the resignation of Sheikh Hasina Modi, who was sworn in as prime minister last week, made the announcement on Thursday.
According to a UN official, a post on X by the chief adviser to the Bangladesh government said this would be the first time since independence in 1971 that the UN would send a fact-finding mission to investigate widespread human rights abuses in Bangladesh.
Mohammad Yunus sworn in as chief advisor The incident took place on August 8, days after the formation of an interim government, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and her fleeing to India on August 5 amid violent protests over quota reforms in government jobs.
“The United Nations is sending a UN fact-finding team next week to investigate atrocities committed during the student revolution in July and earlier this month. UN human rights chief Volker Turk announced the move in a phone call to chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus late Wednesday night,” the Bangladesh government’s chief adviser said in a post on X, the handle run by Yunus’ office.
Bangladesh descended into chaos after Hasina’s departure last week, with the military stepping in to fill the power vacuum on Aug. 5. Before that, more than 500 people had been killed in anti-government protests since mid-July.
Meanwhile, Turks pledged their support, saying an inclusive, human rights-focused approach would ensure the transition is a success.
“Phone conversation with @ChiefAdviserGoB Muhammad Yunus was promising. I assured him of the @UNHumanRights Office’s solidarity with the people of Bangladesh at this critical time and our support to the interim government. An inclusive, human rights-focused approach will ensure this transition is successful,” Volker Turk said in a post late Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, after a phone call with Turk, Yunus had posted: “UN human rights chief @volker_turk called Bangladesh’s chief human rights adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday.”
A team of UN experts will soon visit the country for investigation [the killings]Volker Turk told Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus during a phone conversation today.
Yunus said in a post on X: UN human rights chief said a UN-led inquiry will be launched very soon to investigate the killing of protesters during the student revolution.
Yunus said human rights will be the cornerstone of his administration and the safety of every citizen is the government’s top priority. He has sought support from the United Nations to uphold human rights.
“The Chief Advisor thanked him and his long-term friend, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, for supporting the Bangladesh students’ revolution and advocating for their rights during the unprecedented and devastating killings of student protesters,” Yunus said in a series of posts.
Meanwhile, a complaint was filed on Wednesday with the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal’s investigation agency against Hasina and eight others, accusing them of committing genocide and crimes against humanity during a massive student movement against her government.