The United Nations is dispatching a fact-finding team to Dhaka on Thursday as part of its investigation into the killings that occurred during the student revolution in July and early August.
The team is expected to meet with several government advisers and civil society members during their visit to gather information, reports UNB.
While speaking to reporters at his office, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday said: "The UN human rights commission delegation will likely arrive in Dhaka on Thursday led by Rory Mungoven. He is probably an Australian citizen and the head of the Asia-Pacific Section. He will be accompanied by two other human rights officers."
The team is expected to stay in Bangladesh until August 28, but they might extend their visit.
Discussions will focus on how Bangladesh can be assisted and the investigation that is about to begin, according to the foreign secretary.
Masud Bin Momen assured that the Foreign Ministry would provide the necessary support to the UN human rights delegation and that they would meet with advisors, government officials, civil society representatives, and human rights organizations.
He added: "However, they have not disclosed what actions they will take. We expect that, as the first team, they will discuss with all stakeholders, identify areas where assistance is needed, and also talk with advisors about the scope of work for the subsequent team."
The main UN team will arrive later, and those arriving on Thursday can be considered as an advance team, the foreign secretary stated.
The move was announced by UN human rights chief Volker Turk during a recent call with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The government has expressed its readiness to cooperate with the UN team to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.
On Thursday, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Gwyn Lewis, met with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain to discuss the mission.
She mentioned that the team will include technical experts who will begin the initial fact-finding process.
UN team due next week to probe Bangladesh atrocities"The mandate, details, and how the team will collaborate with the government are still to be agreed upon," Lewis told reporters after the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier on August 16, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said the transition in Bangladesh was an historic opportunity to ensure governance is anchored in human rights, inclusivity and rule of law, stressing the need for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and violence.
According to available public reports by media and the protest movement itself, between July 16 and August 11, more than 600 people were killed, according to the report titled “Preliminary Analysis of Recent Protests and Unrest in Bangladesh.”
