Move resolution at UNHRC to investigate human rights violations in Bangladesh: Joint letter urges Canadian FM

A group of Canadian academics, lawyers, civil society leaders and organisations have urged their government to work with other states to put Bangladesh on the agenda at the upcoming September session of the United Nations Human Rights Council and seek an international inquiry into the grave human rights violations that have occurred in the country. 

This call has been forwarded today (4 September) to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly in a joint letter signed by 31 prominent citizens and organisations based in Canada, reads a press release.

Bangladesh has officially sought help from the United Nations for an independent and impartial investigation into the human rights violations that occurred in the country between July and August 2024. 

"Canada should work with other states to move and garner support for a resolution to establish an independent international investigative mechanism at the UN Human Rights Council with a mandate to carry out an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the unlawful killings, detention, torture, attack on minorities and other serious human rights violations that took place in Bangladesh for decades and scaled up in recent months," said the signatories.

The country has seen an extraordinary turn of courageous protests, violent crackdowns and seismic political change in recent months after a student protest against a discriminatory quota in government hirings was met with unlawful killings, detention and torture of students and civilians in July. 

At least 600 people, including protesting students, bystanders, journalists and members of the security force, were killed in the country between 16 July and 11 August, according to preliminary analysis by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Unicef reported that 65 of those killed were children.

Sheikh Hasina, who was prime minister of Bangladesh for 15 years, until 5 August 2024, resigned and fled the country in the wake of the massive public uprising against her. On 8 August 2024, an interim administration was formed under the leadership of Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, who now has the aspirations of many that he will deliver justice entrusted to him.

The signatories observed that serious human rights violations have occurred during and before the period of Sheikh Hasina, all of which should come within the purview of the investigation.

The signatories also urged the Canadian government to apply universal jurisdiction laws to ensure that individuals who are alleged to have committed or been responsible for serious human rights violations in Bangladesh do not evade justice and accountability in Canada. 

"The situation in Bangladesh is a test case for Canada's clarion call for 'seeking justice and accountability for those on the frontlines of defending human rights' – the first of six priorities that Canada outlined in support of its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council's 2028-2030 term," said the signatories in the letter.