UN report on atrocities During July Uprising by mid-February

UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk with Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus (2nd and 3rd from left) in Davos. UNB

AKM Moinuddin

Davos (Switzerland), Jan 23 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has said the UN fact-finding mission on the atrocities during the July-August uprising is in a final stage and will be released by mid-February.

He made the comments during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss mountain city on Wednesday, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.

UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk with Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus (2nd and 3rd from left) in Davos. UNB

Türk said the report would also be shared with the Bangladesh side ahead of its publication from the UN rights office in Geneva.

Dr Yunus thanked the UN rights office for investigating the crimes committed during the student-led uprising.

He said reports of the six major independent commissions would also come out at around the same time.

These reports might serve to complement each other, they observed.

The chief adviser urged the UN human rights chief for his support in resolving the Rohingya crisis, which has worsened in recent months following the influx of tens of thousands of new refugees from Myanmar.

While assuring of his full support, Türk said that he was in conversation with relevant stakeholders, including UN special envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, in this regard.

The deep human rights crisis in Myanmar needs the world’s attention, Turk said, after his meetings with key leaders including Special Envoy on Myanmar for talks on the urgent need for solutions and a coordinated response that prioritises peace and human rights.

Yunus called for creating a UN-overseen safe zone inside Myanmar's Rakhine side in an effort to stop the fresh influx of Rohingyas.

The chief adviser referred to the upcoming high-level conference on the Rohingya crisis, saying it will bring global focus to one of the worst humanitarian crises.

Türk agreed that such a conference is very important to bring back the lost focus of the international community on the crisis.

Lamiya Morshed, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator of the Bangladesh government, and Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Bangladesh's Permanent Representative in Geneva, also attended the meeting. - UNB