Dhaka: A new report from the United Nations Human Rights Commission documents gross abuses during the Bangladeshi student protests and accompanying bloodshed in 2024. The report highlighted specific human rights abuses that occurred under Sheikh Hasina’s government and the interim government under Mohammad Yunus.
The report states that at least 1,400 people were killed during the 2024 student protests, with most of the protestors, including 12-13 per cent of children, shot by security forces. Even though the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina at first said 150 people had died, the report claims hundreds were killed without trial and thousands arrested and detained with the acquiescence of the government and security forces.
Violence and Persecution of the Minority The UN Human Rights Commission also alleged that the interim government of Mohammad Yunus incited violence against the religious minority.
According to the report, data on attacks on Hindus, Ahmadi Muslims, and indigenous people is also indicative. It mentions that ‘good faith’ efforts were made to contain violence directed against Awami League leaders, minorities, and indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Sexual violence and police brutality The report found that women were beaten and threatened with rape to stop them from joining the protests.
Allegedly involving police personnel, these attacks included. Political leaders and security officials “intentionally perpetrated unlawful killings and torture” as a means to put a stop to the protests, said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.
UN Report on Shaikh Hasina and Yunus Government The UN report also said that the interim government of Mohammad Yunus minimized attacks against minorities. The report also noted that it was the deliberate killing of student leader and protest martyr Abu Saeed.