Policemen stand guard in front of the Bangladesh Election Commission office. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Nearly 650 people have been killed in the recent unrest in Bangladesh between July 16, 2024, and August 11, 2024, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office has said in a preliminary report — suggesting a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions.

According to the 10-page report titled “Preliminary Analysis of Recent Protests and Unrest in Bangladesh”, nearly 400 deaths were reported between July 16 and August 4, while around 250 people were reportedly killed following the new wave of protests between August 5 and 6, leading to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The available public reports by the media and the protest movement itself claimed that between July 16 and August 11, more than 600 people were killed due to the wave of violence following the Anti-Discriminatory Student demonstrations.

The number of reported killings in revenge attacks since that time remains to be determined, the report said that was released on Friday (August 16, 2024) in Geneva.

Several deaths were reported between August 7 and 11, including those who died while undergoing medical treatment for injuries sustained in the violence, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report suggested.

“Those killed include protesters, bystanders, journalists and several security forces personnel”, it said, adding that thousands of protesters and bystanders were injured, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of patients.

The report said the reported death toll was likely an underestimate as information collection faced a hindrance from restrictions on movement due to the curfew and the internet shutdown.

Furthermore, hospitals were reportedly prevented by State authorities from providing details of those killed and injured, the report suggested. Triggered by the reinstatement of a quota system for the allocation of jobs in civil services, the student protests in Bangladesh in mid-June turned violent, with reports of severe human rights violations by security forces.

“There are strong indications, warranting further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation,” the report said.

“Additional, alleged violations, that also warrant thorough, impartial and transparent investigations included extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, as well as severe restrictions on the exercise of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly,” the report said.

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 following the resignation of Ms. Hasina on August 5, the report said.

On Thursday (August 15, 2024), mobs armed with bamboo sticks, iron rods and pipes reportedly assaulted the former prime minister’s Awami League Party supporters who had gathered to pay their tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his death anniversary.

The UN report emphasised the importance of rapidly restoring law and order, as well as the need for effective measures to prevent further loss of life, violence and acts of reprisals.

“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 report said.

On Friday, UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk underlined the need for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and violence, including against religious minorities, in Bangladesh as his office issued the preliminary report.

Calling for a comprehensive, impartial, and transparent investigation into all human rights violations, Mr. Turk also said the transition in the South Asian nation is a historic opportunity to ensure governance is anchored in human rights, inclusivity and the rule of law.

Mr. Turk’s comments came a day after it was announced that a team from his office is slated to visit Bangladesh next week to investigate the killings of the protesters ahead of and in the aftermath of Hasina’s resignation as the prime minister on August 5.

“The transition ahead presents a historic opportunity to reform and revitalise the country’s institutions, to restore fundamental freedoms and civic space, and to give all in Bangladesh a part in building the future,” the High Commissioner said.

Bangladesh descended into chaos after Hasina fled to India on August 5. Before that, the anti-government protests had killed more than 500 people since mid-July.

Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on August 8 as the Chief Adviser of the interim government after he was chosen by President Mohammed Shahabuddin following the dissolution of the Parliament, a decision prompted by a demand by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

The Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance said the minority community faced attacks and threats in 278 locations across 48 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, terming it as an “assault on the Hindu religion”.

Several Hindu temples, homes, and businesses of the minority community in Bangladesh were destroyed this month amidst the unrest.

“The High Commissioner (Turk) also welcomed the initiative by various student organisations, faith leaders, and other people forming groups to protect minorities and religious sites belonging to minority communities,” the statement said and acknowledged that the interim government has also strongly condemned these acts.

Mr. Turk welcomed the release of thousands of detainees and longer-term political prisoners – including some victims of enforced disappearance – and urged the release of all those arbitrarily detained.

The report has detailed the situation with background and gives specific recommendations to all the political actors, the interim government, and the international community “to address the present situation in the country that has resulted from the demonstrations and events detailed in the report.” However, long-term comprehensive legal and institutional reforms will be needed, it said.

The High Commissioner also announced that a team would visit Dhaka next week to explore areas in which the UN Human Rights Office can support the transition.

A demonstrator gestures as protesters clash with Border Guard Bangladesh and the police, as violence erupted across the country after anti-quota protests by students, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 19, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina imposed a nationwide curfew last week and used the Army to quell protests against job quotas that killed nearly 150 people, but anger against her government does not seem to have abated.

The protests, which started in universities and colleges earlier this month, turned into a more widespread agitation against Ms. Hasina and her government.

Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and lobbed sound grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters who came out on the streets. The government denied any live rounds were fired, but hospital sources said dead and injured people had wounds from bullets and shot gun pellets.

Rights groups and critics say Ms. Hasina has become increasingly autocratic during her last 15 years in power and her rule has been marked by mass arrests of political opponents and activists, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, the charges she denies.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, the secretary of Shushahoner Jonno Nagorik, a Dhaka-based civil society platform for good governance, said the protests were “just the tip of the iceberg” and the use of force against students will breed further discontent against Ms. Hasina’s government.

On the student protests in Bangladesh | Explained

“People are being deprived of their basic rights, with a significant lack of human rights and justice. They can’t cast their votes freely,” he said. “This widespread frustration and anger among the people is evident in the protests.”

Government official were not immediately available for comment. But officials have said previously no students were involved in arson or violence, and instead blamed Opposition parties.

Ms. Hasina (76), first led her Awami League party to victory in elections in 1996, serving one five-year term before regaining power in 2009, never to lose again. She won a fourth straight term in office in January elections that were boycotted by the main opposition party and also marred by deadly protests.

While Ms. Hasina managed to overcome discontent and return the country towards some normalcy this week, it will not be “business as usual” going forward, said Zafar Sobhan, the editor of English daily Dhaka Tribune.

“This crisis shows that the government needs to listen to the young people of the country and take their concerns seriously,” said Mr. Sobhan, adding that the quota issue served as a proxy for several other key issues.

“The government has been put on notice that enough is enough and it needs to address the legitimate concerns of the public,” he said.

“Murders must be investigated”

Asif Mahmud, a student leader, told Reuters that he was abducted and abused by authorities for four days and then dumped on the road this week. His allegations could not be independently verified and government officials could not be immediately reached for comment on a holiday.

“There have been killings, nobody is addressing that,” Mr. Mahmud said. “These murders should be investigated. Those who ran this massacre, we will demand their prompt punishment.”

The United Nations, international rights groups, the U.S. and Britain have criticised the use of force and asked Dhaka to uphold the right to peaceful protests.

Ms. Hasina said she was forced to impose the curfew to protect citizens and state property, blaming the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami party for the violence, charges they denied.

Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of BNP, said that Ms. Hasina was involved in “mass murder” during the protests.

The daughter of the country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan, Ms. Hasina has been credited with turning around the economy and the massive garments industry.

But the economy has also slowed sharply since the Russia-Ukraine war pushed up prices of fuel and food imports, forcing Bangladesh to turn last year to the International Monetary Fund for a $4.7 billion bailout.

Experts have blamed the latest unrest on stagnant job growth in the private sector and high rates of youth unemployment that have made government jobs, with their regular wage hikes and other privileges, more attractive.

“Failing to tame inflation, which currently hovers around 10%, and unemployment was not due to a dearth of options but rather due to a lack of political will,” the experts said.

“One critical policy approach could have been to increase investment into the services sectors such as health and education where it would be possible to create more decent jobs, especially for the educated and relatively young people,” said Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, chairman of Dhaka think tank Research and Policy Integration for Development.