Amidst ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, the UN estimates that up to 1,400 people were killed during last year's protests against Sheikh Hasina's government, attributing most deaths to state-sanctioned violence. The situation escalated after a police crackdown on student-led protests, prompting allegations of systematic repression against opposition figures and minorities.
UN Alleges Sheikh Hasina’s Regime Brutally Repressed Democratic Protests in Bangladesh
UN Alleges Sheikh Hasina’s Regime Brutally Repressed Democratic Protests in Bangladesh
The United Nations reports that the government's crackdown on protests may constitute crimes against humanity, citing widespread violence and fatalities.
Last year marked a grim chapter in Bangladesh's history, with violent anti-government protests leading to the deaths of up to 1,400 individuals, as per United Nations estimates. The UN’s human rights investigators accused the ousted government of Sheikh Hasina of employing brutal tactics that may amount to "crimes against humanity." Their findings suggest the existence of an official strategy aimed at violently suppressing dissent, designed to maintain the regime's grip on power amid widespread public discontent.
Sheikh Hasina, who held office for 15 years, reportedly fled to India just before demonstrators stormed her residence, escalating the crisis. Originally sparked by student-led protests against discrimination in civil service job quotas, the demonstrations transformed into a nationwide movement calling for Hasina’s resignation following a violent police crackdown.
The UN’s report detailed harrowing accounts of violence, including instances of protesters being shot at point-blank range and others being tortured or arbitrarily arrested. Alarmingly, the report indicated that approximately 13% of those killed were children, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
Requested by Bangladesh’s caretaker leader Muhammad Yunus, the report shifts focus from the government's security forces to also examine assaults on individuals considered supporters of the previous government and on various religious and ethnic communities. The UN has urged proper investigations into these incidents across the board.
As the situation evolves, Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for Sheikh Hasina, further intensifying the political turmoil gripping the nation.
