We agree with the call made by Human Rights Watch (HRW) for the interim government to seek a resolution at the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council by establishing an independent mechanism to investigate and pursue accountability for all the atrocities that occurred during July and the beginning of August in Bangladesh.
Also important is the suggestion for the council to ensure ongoing monitoring of Bangladesh’s human rights situation by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). To ensure that these investigations are as effective and credible as possible, every single stakeholder associated must prioritize transparency and cooperation, and allow those tasked with these investigations to do their jobs as comprehensively as possible.
What transpired over the month of July, with the previous regime’s heinous actions against what were peaceful protests, requires an open examination of the facts. The crackdown on protests leading to Sheikh Hasina’s departure was the deadliest in Bangladesh’s recent history and it is imperative that an investigation is conducted transparently and with full cooperation so that anybody associated with these atrocities is brought to justice.
There was much blood spilled over the months of July and the first week of August. While at this stage, there are arrests and charges, it is important for the collective healing of this nation to have credible facts that tell us clearly what happened during the crackdown of the protests.
The interim government’s challenges do not get any easier but for the greater good of the nation, we hope they take to heart the need for transparency and cooperation and ensure that there are no elements that cause roadblocks for this investigation to occur.
