In a comprehensive report released on February 12, 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Office detailed severe human rights violations during the student-led protests in Bangladesh from July to August 2024. The report implicates former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior political figures in orchestrating operations that led to these abuses. Following Hasina’s ousting, a political vacuum emerged, resulting in widespread violence against minority communities, including Hindus and indigenous groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Direct Involvement of Leadership
The UN report indicates that security and intelligence services systematically engaged in rights violations under the directives of top officials. These actions, which may amount to crimes against humanity, included extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and instances of torture. The crackdown on protests led to significant casualties, with estimates of up to 1,400 people killed, including approximately 180 children.
Political Vacuum and Subsequent Violence
After weeks of escalating protests, Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, aboard a Bangladeshi military aircraft and has since remained in New Delhi. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has requested her extradition, but there has been no progress on the matter. The UN human rights office noted that the ensuing political vacuum led to a “broad pattern of violence” against minorities. The motivations behind these attacks were varied, encompassing religious, ethnic, and political biases.
Impact on Hindu and Indigenous Communities
The report highlighted that the power vacuum created by the unrest and the overrunning of police stations increased vulnerabilities for distinct religious and indigenous groups, particularly Hindus, indigenous communities in the CHT, and Ahmadiyya Muslims. Violent mobs engaged in serious acts of revenge violence, including killings, targeting police and Awami League officials, especially from early August onwards. Some Hindus, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and indigenous people from the CHT were also subjected to human rights abuses, including the burning of homes and attacks on places of worship.
Calls for Accountability
While unveiling the report in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk avoided directly addressing whether accountability for Hasina was feasible without her return from India, making no mention of India. Instead, he raised the possibility of referring Hasina for prosecution to the International Criminal Court (ICC), but indicated that this would be contingent on universal jurisdiction. It’s important to note that India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, potentially complicating any legal proceedings.
Criticism of the UN Report
Human rights activist and Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group, Suhas Chakma, criticised the UN report for its limited scope. He stated, “While accountability for human rights violations by Sheikh Hasina’s regime must be established, the UN Inquiry Report has failed because of the restrictions imposed by the interim government headed by Dr. Muhammad Yunus to investigate human rights violations only from 5 to 15 August 2024.” This criticism underscores concerns about the comprehensiveness of the investigation and the potential for overlooking violations that occurred outside the specified timeframe.
International Response and Future Implications
The UN report has prompted calls from various human rights organisations for thorough investigations and accountability. Amnesty International emphasised the need for the interim government to address systemic issues and ensure justice for the victims. The organisation stated, “The UN report must spur accountability and justice.”
The situation remains complex, with the interim government facing the challenge of restoring stability while addressing past abuses. The international community continues to monitor developments closely, emphasising the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring justice for all affected communities.
For a more detailed overview, you can read the full report or watch the UN’s briefing on the report below:
