“There are reasonable grounds to believe hundreds of extrajudicial killings, extensive arbitrary arrests and detentions, and torture, were carried out with the knowledge, coordination and direction of the political leadership and senior security officials as part of strategy to suppress the protests,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk told a news conference in Geneva.
Protesters celebrate beside a defaced portrait of Sheikh Hasina after news of her resignation in Dhaka on 5 August 2024] “The testimonies and evidence we gathered paint a disturbing picture of rampant state violence and targeted killings that are amongst the most serious violations of human rights, and which may also constitute international crimes.”.
Protesters clash with security forces outside the Bangladesh Television headquarters on 19 July 2024] The protests started as a movement, led by students, against public sector job quotas but quickly morphed into a nationwide uprising against Ms Hasina, who had ruled the country since 2009.
UN human rights body report says grounds to believe Awami League government carried out extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and torture.
Sheikh Hasina’s crackdown on protests that brought down her government in Bangladesh last year was marked by systematic attacks and deadly violence and potentially constituted “crimes against humanity”, the UN said.
