UP TO 1, 400 KILLED
The rights company launched its fact-finding goal at the demand of Bangladesh’s time head Mohammed Yunus, sending a group including human rights investigators, a forensics doctor and a weapons expert to the country.
Wednesday’s document is largely based on more than 230 personal in-depth interviews conducted in Bangladesh and virtual with victims, witnesses, opposition leaders, rights defenders and others, reviews of clinical case files, and of photos, videos and other documents.
The investigation turned up allegations that Hasina’s state was supported by security forces throughout the unrest, which started as protests against civic service job limits before becoming more widespread calls for her to step down.
The previous government tried carefully to halt the protests, according to the rights office, using extremely violent means.
It estimated that” as many as 1, 400 individuals may have been killed” in that 45-day day period, while dozens were injured.
The vast majority of those killed “were shot by Bangladesh’s safety forces”, the right department said, adding that babies made up 12 to 13 per cent of those killed.
The total death toll reported is much higher than the 834 people who were killed during the protests ‘ most recent forecast from Bangladesh’s interim government.
“RAMPANT STATE VIOLENCE”
UN right main Volker Turk stated in a speech that the original government’s “diplomatic and well-coordinated plan” was to hold onto power in the face of the widespread opposition.
As part of a plan to control the protests, there are reasonable grounds to believe that hundreds of judicial killings, considerable arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as torture were carried out under the guidance, coordination, and supervision of senior security officials.
The testimony and evidence gathered by his office “draws a shocking picture of widespread state violence and focused killings,” according to Turk.
According to the report,” security forces intentionally shot defenceless demonstrators at point blank selection in some cases” […
It furthermore documented gender-based assault, including threats of assault aimed at deterring people from taking part in demonstrations.
The rights organization claimed that its crew had discovered that “police and additional security forces killed and maimed babies, and subjected them to arbitrary arrest, incarceration in brutal conditions, and abuse.”
The report also pointed out that some people in the crowds “lynched and other serious retaliatory violence” against police and Awami league officials or supporters while the protests were still ongoing.
According to Turk, “reputability and justice are essential for the national healing and for Bangladesh’s future,”
He argued that” for Bangladesh to move forward, it is to face the abominable wrongs committed” during the period.
What was needed, he said, was” a comprehensive process of truth-telling, healing and accountability, and to redress the legacy of serious human rights violations and ensure they can never happen again”.