The United Nations has accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government of attempting to retain power through systematic and deadly violence against protesters, actions that may constitute "crimes against humanity." UN human rights investigators reported that up to 1,400 individuals were killed during the government's response to mass opposition protests last year, with the majority of fatalities attributed to security forces.
The UN team stated that an official policy to attack and violently suppress anti-government protesters was directed by political leaders and senior security officials. Hasina, who had been in office for 15 years, fled to India by helicopter shortly before crowds stormed her residence last August.
The unrest began as student-led protests against quotas in civil service jobs and escalated into a nationwide movement to oust Hasina and her Awami League party following a deadly police crackdown. Thousands more were injured in the worst violence Bangladesh has seen since its war of independence in 1971.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk stated that the findings indicate the then government, including Sheikh Hasina, "were aware of and involved in very serious offences." He added that there are reasonable grounds to believe that officials of the former government, its security and intelligence apparatus, together with violent elements associated with the former ruling party, committed serious and systematic human rights violations.
The UN investigators documented incidents such as the shooting of protesters at point-blank range, deliberate maiming, arbitrary arrests, and torture. Children were also targeted; the report estimates that up to 13% of the 1,400 people killed between July 1 and August 15 were children.
"The brutal response was a calculated and well-coordinated strategy by the former government to hold onto power in the face of mass opposition," Mr. Türk said. He emphasized that the evidence gathered paints "a disturbing picture of rampant state violence and targeted killings."
The UN report calls for urgent reforms, including an end to militarized policing, independent investigations into abuses, protection of journalists and civil society, and economic and judicial reforms to address systemic corruption and inequality. It warns that some violations may constitute crimes against humanity, requiring international accountability measures.