"Justice means holding not only the shooters, but also those who gave the orders." These words, spoken by Mir Mahmudur Rahman Deepto—the brother of a victim—at a UN Human Rights event, echo the deep wounds inflicted by the brutal crackdown on Bangladesh’s July–August 2024 protests.
During the presentation of the Fact-Finding Report in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk posed a crucial question: “How can we ensure this never happens again?” The report—which reveals systematic human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, and the violent suppression of protesters—has sent shockwaves through the international community.
With calls for accountability growing louder, one message is clear: “The world must take note.” Originally published on February 12 by the UN Human Rights Office, the report details a pattern of repression marked by extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and the disproportionate use of force by security agencies under the previous ruling party.
The findings were discussed on Wednesday in Geneva during a high-level session involving representatives from UN member states and civil society, as well as delegates from Bangladesh’s interim government and various civil society organizations.
UN's call for accountability and reform
High Commissioner Türk underscored the importance of uncovering the truth, ensuring justice, and implementing human rights reforms in Bangladesh. He emphasized that independent investigations are crucial for fostering accountability and preventing further state-sponsored repression.
"It is essential to ensure due process in criminal cases and to investigate retaliatory violence against minorities," Türk stated. "The past year has been marked by brutal violence, but Bangladesh now stands at a crossroads. Independent investigations into serious rights violations will contribute to a new future."
The UN investigative team—which included forensic specialists and weapons experts—spent nearly two months gathering testimonies from survivors, victims’ families, medical professionals, and human rights groups. The report highlights the need for structural reforms, judicial independence, and enhanced protections for fundamental freedoms.
Defending actions and promising reforms
In response to a question from a foreign journalist at the event, Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of the interim government, refuted claims that the state’s actions targeted minority communities after the previous regime was ousted. He explained that while violence did occur against individuals associated with the previous regime, it was not specifically aimed at religious minorities—most victims belonged to the Muslim community.
Nazrul added that branding the incidents as anti-minority repression is misleading, noting that factual data and statistics support his position.
Nazrul further defended the interim government’s actions by highlighting its commitment to democratic rights and electoral reforms, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). He stressed that the government remains dedicated to ensuring voting rights for all citizens and mentioned that a commission has been formed to oversee local government reforms.
On the accountability front, he noted that the interim government has amended the International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973 to ensure fair trials and transparent judicial processes—measures that include redefining offenses, expanding defense rights, and permitting foreign lawyers and UN observers to participate in trials related to human rights violations.
He also revealed that the government cooperated with the UN investigation and the OHCHR fact-finding team by providing access to evidence and witnesses. An independent Commission of Inquiry is investigating enforced disappearances and human rights abuses, with an interim report titled "Unfolding the Truth" already submitted and a final report expected soon.
Additionally, Bangladesh is considering acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and plans to criminalize enforced disappearances under domestic law. Regarding reparations, the government has launched the July Shaheed Memorial Foundation and financial aid programs for victims' families, while also providing advanced medical treatment for the wounded.
Finally, Nazrul reiterated that 15 reform commissions have been established to address systemic issues in law enforcement, judicial independence, and intelligence oversight—some of which align with the recommendations of the UN report.
A cry for justice
Civil society representatives and victims’ families have welcomed the UN report but stressed that justice must extend beyond mere acknowledgment. Farhana Sharmin Emu, an architect and activist with the volunteer network Visionary Voyage, highlighted the systemic inequalities that have prolonged victims’ suffering.
"Justice is more than punishing perpetrators—it requires dismantling the very inequalities that allowed such violence to occur in the first place," she said.
Mir Mahmudur Rahman Deepto, whose younger brother Mir Mugdho was shot dead during the protests, made an emotional appeal for accountability.
"This report is not merely a collection of numbers; it encapsulates the pain, loss, and struggle for justice experienced by real people," he said. "Justice means prosecution—not only for those who pulled the trigger, but also for those who gave the orders."