New Delhi: The United Nations’ preliminary report on recent developments in Bangladesh has noted that security forces employed “unnecessary and disproportionate force” against protesters, which intensified the students movement and ultimately led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Geneva-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report on August 16 which was described as a “preliminary overview” of the human rights concerns “that arose during the recent protests and the state’s response from July until 6 August 2024”.
The students’ movement against the quota system in government jobs began in mid-June, which gathered momentum after a security crackdown. It eventually led to Sheikh Hasina losing power after 15 years, fleeing to neighbouring India. An interim government took over on August 8 which is led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
“There are serious and credible allegations that the security forces responded overall to both protests and subsequent violence with unnecessary and disproportionate force. The police and paramilitary forces appear to have frequently used force indiscriminately against both peaceful protests as well as those with elements of violence, employing rubber bullets, sound grenades and firearms with live lethal ammunition, including birdshot pellets and bullets,” said the UN report.
It stated that security forces had, as per some reports, used helicopters to fire on protesters, further intensifying the violence.
“In some cases, the security forces were reported to have employed vehicles and helicopters that bore the logo of the United Nations and appeared intended for use by Bangladeshi contingents in United Nations peacekeeping missions”.
The UN report, citing open sources, said that 400 people were killed in less than three weeks between July 16 to August 4. It noted that another 250 people were killed following the removal of the Hasina government. Among the deaths were at least four journalists and 32 children.
The OHCHR disputed the Hasina government’s contention that the internet shutdown was due to destruction of infrastructure by protestors. “However, information collected by OHCHR indicates that the Government deliberately restricted internet services – including access to social media – to curb the dissemination of information and hinder the coordination of protest activities”.
Minorities
Immediately after the ouster, the report observed that there reports of attacks against minorities, including Hindus. “On 5 and 6 August, Hindu houses and properties were reportedly attacked, vandalised and looted in 27 districts. A number of places of worship were also damaged, including an ISKCON temple in Meherpur, Khulna division, which was vandalised and set on fire”.
The report also pointed out that various students group and local people formed groups to protect minorities and maintain vigilance over religious sites of minorities. It also acknowledged that the Bangladesh interim government had been quick to condemn the attacks.
The attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus have become a political issue in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising it during his first phone call with the Chief Adviser.
The OHCHR made a series of recommendation for the political actors, interim government and international community, with the aim to “de-escalate tensions, prevent recurrence through security sector and other priority reforms, and ensure a democratic, peaceful and inclusive transition in line with human rights principles”.
Additionally, the UN human rights body will dispatch a team to Dhaka in the coming days to “discuss the modalities for an investigation into human rights violations in the context of the recent violence and unrest,” UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk announced in Geneva on Friday.
He asserted that the current transition period “presents an historic opportunity to reform and revitalize the country’s institutions, to restore fundamental freedoms and civic space, and to give all in Bangladesh a part in building the future”.
