UN commission to probe Bangladesh violence, foreign advisor gives assurance of full support

An independent United Nations commission or fact-finding mission will come to Dhaka next week to start its investigation into the violence surrounding the quota reform movement and the fall of the Awami League government, says UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis.

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has assured the UN of full cooperation with the investigation.

The issue was discussed in a meeting on Thursday, after which Lewis and Hossain gave separate statements to the press.

Lewis said the UN fact-finding mission will work independently and come to the country for its investigation next week. It will be funded by the UN and the global organisation working to determine the process and scope.

Citing the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ conversation with the chief advisor, Lewis said the interim government will provide support to the team.

The government will definitely cooperate to ensure the investigation is acceptable, credible, and impartial, said Foreign Affairs Advisor Hossain.

“We will definitely try to have a completely impartial investigation which will be acceptable to all the world. The situation is currently such that, whatever we do will lead to some kind of criticism. So we want the report to be completely impartial. We will do whatever it takes to help them."

He said, “The main thing is to cooperate so that they can conduct the investigation properly and those who deserve to be punished can be punished. The position of this government is very clear.”

"Those who committed these crimes and those who ordered them must be brought to justice and we have a principled determination to have the United Nations assist us in doing so.”

Highlighting the decision to involve the United Nations, Hossain said: "Let them investigate independently. If they want to investigate here, we should also look into their safety."

"No matter how independently they do it, we have to be involved. As this government also wants a transparent investigation and punishment based on that with legal action. The government has no intention of carrying out a mass trial or a military trial. We want to do it completely according to the law."