12:46 pm - February 12, 2025
The United Nations has accused former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government of involvement in potential “crimes against humanity” during their efforts to maintain power last year. The UN human rights office released a fact-finding report on Wednesday, detailing a systematic crackdown on protesters that included “hundreds of extrajudicial killings.” The report, which covers events in Bangladesh between July 1 and August 15, 2024, found “reasonable grounds to believe” that the Hasina government, along with elements of her Awami League party and the country’s security and intelligence services, committed crimes such as murder, torture, and imprisonment as part of a “widespread and systematic attack” on protesters and civilians. These actions were allegedly taken to ensure the government’s continued grip on power. Hasina, who is now 77 years old and in exile in India, has defied an arrest warrant to face trial in Bangladesh for crimes against humanity.
The UN report paints a devastating picture of the violence unleashed during the 45-day period, estimating that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed, with thousands more injured. The majority of those killed were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces, and approximately 12 to 13 percent of the victims were minors. This death toll far exceeds the 834 fatalities reported by Bangladesh’s interim government. The UN rights office described the government’s response as a “brutal” and “calculated strategy” to suppress protests, which began as demonstrations against civil service job quotas but quickly escalated into demands for Hasina’s resignation. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk emphasized that the alleged extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and torture were carried out with the “knowledge, coordination, and direction” of political leaders and senior security officials, further highlighting the systematic nature of the abuses.
The UN fact-finding mission was conducted at the request of Bangladesh’s interim leader, Mohammed Yunus, and involved interviews with over 230 individuals, including victims, witnesses, protest leaders, and human rights defenders. The team also reviewed medical records, photographs, videos, and other documents to compile their findings. Turk stressed the importance of accountability and justice for the victims, calling for a “comprehensive process of truth-telling, healing, and accountability” to address the legacy of human rights violations. He urged Bangladesh to confront the horrors of the past to ensure such abuses can never happen again. The report’s findings have significant implications for Bangladesh’s political landscape and its efforts to move forward following the turmoil of last year.
In addition to the UN report, Bangladesh’s leading human rights group, Odhikar, released its own findings on Wednesday, detailing at least a dozen deaths in detention since last year’s revolution. These fatalities allegedly resulted from torture, gunshot wounds, and other violent means. Odhikar’s report accused security forces of committing widespread human rights violations during Hasina’s 15-year rule and continuing to do so even after her departure. The group documented 12 deaths between August 9 and December 31, 2024, with three occurring in police custody and the others under the control of other security agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a paramilitary unit known for its brutal tactics. Seven victims reportedly died from torture, while four sustained fatal gunshot wounds. In one particularly disturbing case, a man was beaten and pushed off a bridge by police.
Odhikar’s director, ASM Nasiruddin Elan, called on the interim government to ensure that those responsible for extrajudicial killings and other abuses are held accountable. He emphasized that even supporters of Hasina’s “fascist” regime deserve justice, stating that “extrajudicial killings must be prevented at any cost.” Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s security forces have continued to target supporters of the Awami League and loyalists of Hasina’s government, carrying out mass arrests and further consolidating the interim government’s control. Despite these efforts, the legacy of violence and impunity under Hasina’s rule remains a pressing issue for Bangladesh as it navigates its uncertain political future.
The combined findings of the UN and Odhikar underscore the urgent need for accountability and justice in Bangladesh. Both reports highlight the chilling extent to which state security forces and political leaders resorted to violence to maintain power, leaving thousands of victims and their families in search of truth and justice. As Bangladesh moves forward, the international community and its own citizens will be watching closely to see whether the interim government is willing and able to address these egregious human rights abuses and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. The road to healing and reconciliation will be long and difficult, but it must begin with a commitment to accountability and a willingness to confront the dark chapters of the past.