Awami League Protests UN Human Rights Report, Highlighting Inconsistencies and Confusion

Staff Reporter

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has published a report on the killings and human rights violations that occurred in Bangladesh during July and August. The Bangladesh Awami League has officially rejected the report, issuing a statement on Monday, February 24, on the party’s website, providing a detailed analysis.

In the statement, the Awami League asserted that the report is entirely biased, one-sided, and based on fabricated information. The party believes that the OHCHR has published this report as a political assignment for an illegal and unconstitutional militant group opposing democracy, devoid of neutrality, objectivity, and professionalism.

The statement reads as follows:

The OHCHR’s portrayal of the events in July and August is entirely false. Instead, the report reflects the narrative provided by domestic and foreign groups conspiring to undermine Bangladesh’s constitutional and democratic governance. Recently, the conspiracy surrounding these events was openly discussed in the U.S. and international media, as well as in front of U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. Additionally, President Trump’s recent remarks also hinted at conspiracies involving Bangladesh.

The actual context of these events is related to student protests demanding reforms in the quota system for government jobs. In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abolished the quota system in 2018, which was welcomed by the students. No further issues arose until June 2024, when the High Court overturned the government’s 2018 decision following a lawsuit by children of freedom fighters. Subsequently, the quota for freedom fighters’ descendants was reinstated.

The government, considering the students’ expectations, decided to maintain the 2018 decision to abolish the quota. Therefore, under the Prime Minister’s directive, the government appealed the High Court’s decision to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and sought an immediate stay on the ruling. The Appellate Division suspended the High Court’s decision, effectively reinstating the quota abolition. The government assured students that the final decision would come from the Supreme Court, and the government would support the students’ stance.

A vested interest group, aiming to destabilize the country and overthrow the democratic system, carried out terrorist attacks at Dhaka University and other educational institutions. Later, they attacked several government installations in Dhaka, causing significant damage. In the chaos, several students were killed in planned attacks to overthrow the government. Such conspiracies to destabilize governments are not uncommon globally.

On July 17, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation, assuring students that the government would support their demands and that the Supreme Court would make the final decision. She also announced the formation of a high-level judicial inquiry committee, led by a Supreme Court judge, to investigate the killings and ensure justice for the victims’ families.

In line with the students’ expectations, the hearing date for the quota-related case was moved up. The government included student representatives as parties to the case. On July 21, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s decision, upholding the students’ demands for quota reform. The Prime Minister expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the violence and provided financial assistance. She also ensured proper medical treatment for the injured and personally visited hospitals to offer support.

Despite these efforts, BNP-Jamaat terrorists carried out widespread attacks on government installations in Dhaka, causing massive destruction. The killings in July and August were premeditated, aimed at creating unrest and overthrowing the government. The government questioned why it would orchestrate such killings, asking who stood to gain from them.

The OHCHR report falsely claimed that the protests were fueled by public frustration over governance, corruption, and socio-economic rights, with thousands, including women and children, joining the demonstrations. This statement undermines the United Nations’ own recognition of Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. Bangladesh has achieved significant milestones, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule and transitioning from a least developed country to a developing nation. The UN and other international organizations have praised Bangladesh as a development model.

The OHCHR report also falsely claimed that the Awami League government had not taken any steps to investigate or ensure accountability for serious human rights violations by security forces or Awami League supporters before August 5. This is entirely untrue. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her July 17 address, announced the formation of a high-level judicial inquiry committee led by a Supreme Court judge to investigate all killings and terrorist attacks. The committee began its work, but the illegal interim government dissolved it after August 5.

Additionally, the Prime Minister instructed law enforcement to avoid lethal force and use non-lethal weapons to prevent casualties. She also suspended all Awami League rallies and gatherings to avoid further unrest. The Prime Minister could have declared a state of emergency and used full force to retain power but chose to prioritize public safety and avoid further loss of life.

The OHCHR report biasedly stated that the post-August 5 government had taken steps to ensure accountability for human rights violations. However, the illegal interim government took no action to investigate the widespread killings of police and Awami League supporters, which amount to genocide under international law. The OHCHR’s failure to address these atrocities is a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights laws.

The report also downplayed the attacks on Awami League supporters and police, describing them as “retaliatory violence” and “revenge violence,” attempting to legitimize these acts. The OHCHR’s contradictory recommendations at the end of the report further highlight its biased stance.

The OHCHR report falsely claimed that the judicial inquiry committee was only focused on investigating the quota reform protesters, ignoring the widespread violence by government forces. This is completely untrue. The Prime Minister’s announcement and the committee’s terms of reference did not include such conditions. The OHCHR’s baseless claims raise questions about the sources of its information.

The illegal interim government filed thousands of false murder cases against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League leaders, and countless journalists, intellectuals, lawyers, teachers, artists, and civil society members. These cases, targeting millions as unknown accused, are a misuse of the judicial system to harass innocent people. The OHCHR report expressed no concern over these actions, which violate the rule of law and justice.

The OHCHR report also failed to acknowledge the involvement of BNP-Jamaat in the July-August killings and violence. Despite overwhelming evidence, the report claimed there was no proof of central leadership’s involvement. This is a blatant disregard for the facts, as the coordinated attacks across 450 police stations and nationwide could not have occurred without central leadership’s directives.

The OHCHR report’s biased perspective is a direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights laws. The report’s contradictory statements and lack of evidence-based conclusions undermine its credibility. The OHCHR’s failure to address the genocide and crimes against humanity committed by BNP-Jamaat is unacceptable.

The OHCHR report also criticized Bangladesh’s constitution and the principles of Bengali nationalism, displaying a lack of understanding of the country’s history and liberation struggle. The report’s biased stance undermines the UN’s credibility and fails to recognize Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

In conclusion, the OHCHR report is a biased, one-sided document that fails to uphold the principles of neutrality, objectivity, and professionalism. The Awami League firmly rejects the report and calls for a fair and impartial investigation into the events of July and August, ensuring justice for all victims and upholding the rule of law in Bangladesh.