UN’s July Report Questioned: ‘Fabricated and False Commissioned Document,’ Says Diplomats

Special Reporter

The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been embroiled in a fact-finding report on the conflict that toppled the Awami League government in July-August last year.

Haroon Al Rashid, a Bangladeshi diplomat who resigned after calling the Yunus government’s seizure of power unconstitutional, wrote a Facebook post that was “not an official UN document” and went viral on social media.

He said the report was a “joint fabrication” of Volker Turk and Dr Yunus without the approval of the United Nations.

His allegations have sparked a debate in the political circles. However, official UN sources have endorsed the report.

Prominent diplomat and former ambassador to Bangladesh, Haroon Al Rashid, wrote in his post: “The UN has not published this report. Volker Turk published a fact-finding report on the July Movement on his own initiative, calling it a UN report. The report is not a UN report. This is a joint report by Volker Turk and Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus. ”

He added that the report contained “fabricated and false statements” and showed the death toll as “inflated” at 1,400, although the number was 657 according to the country’s newspapers and 834 according to the Yunus government’s health adviser.

In the post, he also noted that the publication of a fact-finding report by the UN Human Rights Commission requires the approval of the Human Rights Council and the allocation of the budget, which did not happen here.

“No resolution was presented and no resolution was passed. Volker Turk published this report in the media on his own initiative with money from an individual or a state. ”

He urged the UN Secretary-General to conduct a new investigation and said, “The United Nations has stated that it has not released any reports.” ”

At the end of the post, he wrote, “So guess what kind of butchers we have fallen into the clutches of butchers?”

The former diplomat’s post, an expert on diplomacy, has been widely circulated on social media calling for a “very urgent” share.

There have been thousands of shares and comments on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). In a post on X, it said: “This is a big fraud. Why haven’t investigative journalists in our country reported on it yet?”

Many are referring to it as the ‘call of awakening’.

However, official UN sources denied the allegations. The OHCHR report published on February 12, 2025 was titled ‘Human Rights: Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh’.

This is the result of the work of the fact-finding team formed at the invitation of the interim government, which has analysed more than 230 interviews and evidence. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said, “The Brutal Response Was a Calculated and Well-Coordinated Strategy by the Farmer Government to Hold on to Power. ”

According to the report, between July 15 and August 5, there could be up to 1,400 deaths, most of them by security forces. It is available on the official website of the United Nations and published with a document number.

The report exclusively blames the Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her political party. In the meantime, a number of international organizations have responded to the one-sided report of the United Nations. Where the UN report presents the opposite picture of every allegation, every point. In support of this, the data has been added, which makes it clear how the UN report is completely confusing.

This has been informed by the Bangladesh Awami League. According to the party, there are many lies in the UN report. Where the image of the killing and repression of the leaders and activists of the Awami League and its associate bodies has been tactfully avoided. The Awami League’s investigative report highlighted that the medical files of the victims of the movement were not analyzed, the bodies of the deceased were not analyzed, the absence of post-mortem reports, and many other things were avoided.

Dr. Yunus’s office and government authorities have not yet responded to the allegations made by diplomat Haroon Al Rashid. However, an official of the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The report is the result of an independent investigation and is helpful in promoting human rights in the country.” ”

Haroon’s post is politically sensitive, especially in the context of allegations against the interim government after the uprising.

Experts say such suspicions could call into question the credibility of the United Nations. The U.N. secretary-general’s office has not yet commented, but Haroon’s request is likely to continue discussions about the possibility of a new investigation. The controversy could further heat up the political situation in the country, as the interim government prepares for elections.