UN Report condemns Bangladesh government for human rights violations during 2024 protests

The United Nations has pointed a finger at former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of orchestrating a violent response to protests in the country, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries. According to a report released by the UN Human Rights Office, the former government’s violent tactics could be considered a crime against humanity.

Planned attacks and violent suppression

The UN's investigation covers events between July 1 and August 15, 2024, during which large-scale protests erupted in Bangladesh over government job reservation and demands for Sheikh Hasina's resignation. The report highlights that planned attacks and unlawful killings were carried out by Sheikh Hasina's government, alongside violent factions of her Awami League party and Bangladeshi security forces. The authorities allegedly used methods such as murder, torture, imprisonment, and other forms of inhumane acts to maintain control.

The human cost of the protests

The UN report estimates that approximately 1,400 people lost their lives during this period, with thousands more injured. Of those killed, a significant portion was gunned down by Bangladesh security forces, with children making up 12-13% of the victims. The violence included sexual assaults on women and atrocities committed against children, with police and security personnel reportedly beating, arresting, and torturing minors under inhumane conditions.

A strategy to hold power

In response to the findings, Volker Turk, the UN's human rights chief, condemned the former government's actions, stating that the brutal crackdown was a "well-planned and coordinated strategy" to quash mass protests and secure political power. According to Turk, the violence was carried out with the knowledge and support of senior political and security leaders, including Sheikh Hasina's administration. The United Nations’ damning report casts a dark shadow over the former Bangladeshi government and raises serious questions about the handling of peaceful protests. The extensive use of violence and human rights violations under the Hasina administration has left many questioning the future of democracy and human rights in Bangladesh.