The United Nations has announced that it will be deploying a fact-finding team to investigate alleged human rights violations during the recent anti-discrimination student protests in Bangladesh. The team is expected to be appointed next week, according to a statement released by Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
In the statement, it was revealed that Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, extended a formal invitation to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct an impartial and independent investigation into incidents of human rights violations that occurred between July 1 and August 15.
The investigation team will focus on reporting the violence and repression during the protests, analyzing the root causes, and making recommendations to advance justice, accountability, and long-term reforms. The office of the High Commissioner has received full cooperation from the interim government and law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh for this mission.
A UN delegation visited Bangladesh from August 22 to August 29, where they engaged with detained or injured student leaders, several advisors from the interim government, the Chief Justice, senior police and military officers, lawyers, journalists, human rights activists, political parties, and representatives of minority and indigenous groups.
The statement also noted that the High Commissioner warmly welcomed Bangladesh’s decision to join the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Additionally, the High Commissioner expressed support for the establishment of a national investigation commission to search for individuals who have been forcibly disappeared through the actions of law enforcement agencies.
