In its response to the decision, the UN human rights workplace (OHCHR) reiterated its opposition to the loss of life penalty in all circumstances.
Final July, scholar protests which started over a quota system for public service jobs in Bangladesh rapidly escalated into widespread demonstrations, which had been violently repressed by nationwide safety forces.
Following the previous prime minister’s resignation she fled the nation for India. A UN-led investigation into alleged crimes discovered that 1,400 individuals – together with many youngsters – could have been killed whereas 1000’s had been injured throughout July and August final 12 months.
A ‘second for victims’
OHCHR described the decision as “an necessary second for victims of the grave violations dedicated in the course of the suppression of protests final 12 months.”
Since publishing its report in February 2025, OHCHR has been calling for perpetrators – together with people in positions of command and management – to be held accountable in accordance with worldwide requirements and for victims to have entry to efficient cures and reparation.
The report discovered that the previous Bangladeshi administration tried to systematically suppress the protests with more and more violent means as a way to stay in energy.
“The testimonies and proof we gathered paint a disturbing image of rampant State violence and focused killings, which might be amongst essentially the most critical violations of human rights, and which can additionally represent worldwide crimes,” UN human rights chief Volker Türk mentioned in February.
“Accountability and justice are important for nationwide therapeutic and for the way forward for Bangladesh.”
Finish the loss of life penalty
OHCHR has persistently referred to as for proceedings which “unquestionably” meet worldwide requirements of due course of and truthful trial, the company mentioned in its response.
As a part of its work, the workplace advocates for the common abolition of the loss of life penalty and over time, a number of UN resolutions have been handed to guard the rights of these dealing with capital punishment.
The trial towards Ms. Hasina and Mr. Khan was carried out in absentia and led to a capital sentence, making worldwide requirements “significantly important,” the workplace continued.
Mr. Türk hopes Bangladesh will now transfer ahead with a complete means of “truth-telling, reparation and justice because the pathway to nationwide reconciliation and therapeutic.”
He referred to as for calm “and for all to train restraint in response to those developments.”
