GENEVA: The UN Human Rights Office announced on Friday that it will deploy a fact-finding team to Bangladesh to investigate allegations of human rights abuses and excessive force used by security forces against student-led protests this summer.
The investigation follows an invitation from Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. The visit is scheduled to occur in the coming weeks.
Yunus assumed leadership earlier this month after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled to India amid widespread unrest. The UN has reported nearly 650 deaths since the student protests turned violent on July 15, with additional fatalities occurring after Hasina’s departure on August 5.
An advance team from the UN recently visited Bangladesh, engaging with student leaders, some of whom had been detained, as well as government officials, police, journalists, and human rights defenders. The team received assurances of full cooperation from the authorities.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed its commitment to assisting the interim government and the people of Bangladesh during this critical period, aiming to support democratic renewal, accountability, and human rights advancements.
