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Published : 02 Mar 2025, 06:48 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has called for the “meticulous preservation” of records documenting alleged atrocities committed under the administration of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
During a meeting with United Nations officials on Sunday, Yunus emphasised that without a proper archival system “it is difficult to know the truth and ensure justice”.
His remarks came during talks at the State Guest House Jamuna with UN Resident Coordinator Gwen Lewis, and Huma Khan, a UN human rights expert, according to a statement issued by the chief advisor’s press wing.
Among the incidents Yunus cited were the crackdown on demonstrators at Shapla Chattar, police brutality against protesters following the Delwar Hossain Sayedee verdict, and years of alleged extrajudicial killings.
The UN officials, in response, reaffirmed their willingness to assist Bangladesh in documenting human rights abuses.
“This is a process of healing and truth-building,” Lewis said, offering the UN’s expertise in technical assistance and capacity-building.
Yunus also commended the organisation’s recent fact-finding report on human rights violations following the July Uprising.
According to Lewis, the document is set to be presented by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council session in Geneva on Mar 5.
“We are very pleased that the UN has published this report; it is timely,” Yunus said.
The discussion also touched on the plight of the Rohingya refugees, with Lewis expressing concern over dwindling international aid.
The UN estimates that at least $15 million per month is needed to sustain basic food supplies, alongside other essential services.
“We are very concerned about the funding situation,” said Lewis.
UN Secretary General António Guterres is scheduled to visit Bangladesh from Mar 13 to Mar 16, a trip that Lewis hopes will refocus global attention on the refugee crisis.
