UN fact-finding team to probe rights violations committed from 1 July to 15 Aug 

The UN Human Rights Office will deploy a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in the coming weeks, to report on violations and abuses perpetrated during the recent student protests.

The mission will analyse root causes, and make recommendations to advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at a press briefing in Geneva today (30 August).

The decision was made in response to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus' official invitation to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to conduct an impartial and independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from 1 July to 15 August.

An advance team visited Bangladesh from 22-29 August, meeting with student leaders of the recent protests, many of whom have been detained or injured in recent weeks, said Shamdasani.

In its meetings, the team discussed the modalities for an investigation into human rights violations and abuses in the context of the recent violence and unrest, she added.

"It also discussed wider areas – including civic space, the need for truth, justice, healing, reparation and reconciliation, and other human rights approaches to the reform process – in which our Office could provide sustained support," said the spokesperson.

The team received commitments from the interim government and security forces for full cooperation in their work, she noted.

Shamdasani said Volker Türk warmly welcomed the announcement of Bangladesh's accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the establishment of a five-member national commission of inquiry to determine the whereabouts of individuals forcibly disappeared allegedly by law enforcement agencies.

The spokesperson said, "The issue of enforced disappearances has a long and painful history in Bangladesh, on which the UN Human Rights Office and UN human rights mechanisms have advocated robustly. 

"We stand ready to support the Commission in its work, which should be in close consultation with victims and their families and in line with international human rights standards, including the guiding principles for the search for disappeared persons."

The UN Human Rights Office looks forward to supporting the interim government and people of Bangladesh to revitalise democracy, seek accountability and reconciliation, and advance human rights, she said.

Earlier, the International Crimes Strategy Forum (ICSF) also urged the UN rights body to investigate events which took place both before and after 5 August. The ICSF in a letter to Volker Türk sought his initiative in this regard.

"Given the UN's intention to help Bangladesh with the transition, we believe that the investigations should look into the events which took place both before and after 5 August. We learnt from media reports that the Law Advisor of the Interim Government Dr Asif Nazrul wants the UN to look into events only up to 5 August," the letter reads.