UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday said the transition in Bangladesh was a historic opportunity to ensure governance is anchored in human rights, inclusivity and rule of law, stressing the need for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and violence.

“Accountability for violations and justice for the victims are key for the way forward, and will need to be accompanied by a national healing process. All those responsible for human rights violations, including those who used or ordered the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, must be held to account and victims must be provided with reparations and effective remedies,” UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said at the UN bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.

“A comprehensive, impartial and transparent investigation into all human rights violations and abuses that have occurred will be a critical first step.”

Her remarks came as the Office issued a preliminary report on the protests and unrest in the country in recent weeks. Triggered by the reinstatement of a quota system for allocation of civil service positions, initially peaceful student protests in Bangladesh in mid-June were followed by violence and serious human rights violations committed by security forces, with hundreds of people believed to have been killed – including at least 32 children – and thousands injured.

“There are strong indications, warranting further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation,” Shamdasani told reporters. “Additional, alleged violations, that also warrant thorough, impartial and transparent investigations, include extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, and severe restrictions on the exercise of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.”

Following the resignation of the Government on 5 August 2024, there were also reports of looting, arson and attacks on members of religious minorities, as well as reprisals against and revenge killings of members of the former ruling party and police. On 15 August, mobs armed with bamboo sticks, iron rods and pipes reportedly assaulted supporters of the former Prime Minister. Journalists were also reportedly attacked and threatened preventing them from filming at the scenes.

“Law enforcement agencies need to receive clear instructions and training on the use of force, in line with international human rights standards,” Shamdasani said. “They must protect populations at risk against any retaliatory or revenge violence, including minority communities. The High Commissioner welcomes the initiative by various student organisations, faith leaders and other people forming groups to protect minorities and religious sites belonging to minority communities.”

She said the UN Human Rights Office welcomes the release of thousands of detainees and longer-term political prisoners, including victims of enforced disappearances. “We urge the release of all those arbitrarily detained.”

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva:

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org

Jeremy Laurence - + 41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

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STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on the transition in Bangladesh

TRT: 3’14

SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 16 August 2024 – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

1. Exterior shot: Palais des Nations
2. Interior shot: Briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English)—Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The transition in Bangladesh is a historic opportunity to reform and revitalise the country’s institutions, to restore fundamental freedoms and civic space, and for inclusive governance, giving all the people in Bangladesh a part in building the future. Accountability for violations and justice for the victims are key for the way forward, and will need to be accompanied by a national healing process. All those responsible for human rights violations, including those who used or ordered the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, must be held to account and victims must be provided with reparations and effective remedies. A comprehensive, impartial and transparent investigation into all human rights violations and abuses that have occurred will be a critical first step.”
4. Cutaway: Briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English)—Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “These initially peaceful student protests were followed by violence and serious human rights violations committed by security forces, with hundreds of people believe to have been killed, including at least 32 children, and thousands injured.”
6. Cutaway: Briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English)—Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “In a preliminary report we are issuing today, there are strong indications, warranting further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation. Additional, alleged violations, that also warrant thorough, impartial and transparent investigations, include extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, and severe restrictions on the exercise of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.”
8. Cutaways: Briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE (English)—Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Following the resignation of the government on the 5^th of August 2024, there were also reports of looting, arson and attacks on members of religious minorities, as well as reprisals against and revenge killings of members of the former ruling party and police.”
10. Cutaway: Briefing room
11. SOUNDBITE (English)—Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Mobs armed with bamboo stick, iron rods and pipes reportedly assaulted supporters of the former prime minister. Journalists were also reportedly attacked and threatened, preventing them from filming at the scenes.”
12. Cutaway: Briefing room
13. SOUNDBITE (English)—Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Law enforcement agencies need to receive clear instructions and training on the use of force, in line with international human rights standards. They must protect populations at risk against any retaliatory or revenge violence, including minority communities. The High Commissioner welcomes the initiative by various student organisations, faith leaders and other people forming groups to protect minorities and religious sites belonging to minority communities.”
14. Cutaway: Briefing room
15. SOUNDBITE (English)—Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We also welcome the release of thousands of detainees and longer-term political prisoners, including some victims of enforced disappearances, and we urge the release of all those arbitrarily detained.”
16. Cutaways: Briefing room