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Published : 12 Feb 2025, 09:17 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law while welcoming a report issued by the United Nations.
In a statement released by his press wing, Yunus urged all involved within Bangladesh’s justice system—including police, prosecutors, and judges—to uphold the principles of the rule of law.
A recent UN report has found that several major incidents of killings and indiscriminate shootings during the July Uprising in Bangladesh were carried out under the orders and supervision of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The report documents human rights violations in Bangladesh between Jul 1, 2024, and Aug 15, 2024.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk presented key findings from the report at a media briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.
Referring to the report, Yunus said “structural deficiencies” have taken root in Bangladesh’s law-enforcing agencies and judiciary under the rule of Hasina.
“We want to build a society where all people can live in security and dignity. This is why reforming these institutions is very important,” Yunus said.
“I am committed to transforming Bangladesh—alongside the interim government and its citizens—into a country where all people can live in security and dignity,” he added.
Calling on key institutions to uphold fundamental rights, the chief advisor said: “Let us hold accountable those who have broken the law and violated people’s human and civil rights.”
The UN estimates that approximately 1,400 people were killed during the protests in Bangladesh. Most of the deaths, the report found, resulted from the use of military rifles and shotguns.
The report noted that shotguns are commonly used by Bangladeshi security forces, a practice that contributed to the high number of casualties. Thousands of people were seriously injured during the protests, with some left permanently disabled.
The report details widespread human rights violations during the July-August unrest, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and the excessive use of force under the government led by Hasina.
It further notes that various groups and organisations affiliated with the Awami League, along with members of security and intelligence agencies, were also involved in the crackdown.
