CA Calls for Documenting Atrocities of Past Regime

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called for the comprehensive documentation of atrocities committed during the regime of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking on the subject, he highlighted incidents such as the brutal crackdown on protesters at Shapla Chattar, police violence against demonstrators following the verdict against Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, and a series of extrajudicial killings over the years.

"Proper documentation of these atrocities is essential for understanding the truth and achieving justice," Dr. Yunus stated. "Without this documentation, we cannot ensure accountability or prevent such violations in the future."

The Chief Adviser made these remarks during a meeting with Gwyn Lewis, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, and Huma Khan, the Senior Human Rights Adviser at the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Bangladesh, at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

Resident Coordinator Lewis expressed the UN's readiness to provide technical assistance in documenting these violations and supporting Bangladesh in building its capacity in this regard.

"This process is vital for healing and establishing truth," Lewis emphasized.

Dr. Yunus also expressed gratitude to the UN for its timely fact-finding report on human rights violations related to the July and August 2024 protests in Bangladesh. "We are pleased to see the UN's report. It arrived when needed, and we recognize the challenges involved in gathering and publishing this information," he said.

Lewis informed Dr. Yunus that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, would present the findings of the report to member states during the upcoming 55th session of the Human Rights Council on March 5.

Additionally, Resident Coordinator Lewis noted the upcoming visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Bangladesh, scheduled for March 13-16. She hoped the visit would bring renewed global attention to the ongoing Rohingya crisis, particularly as funding for relief efforts has significantly dwindled.

"We are deeply concerned about the financial situation," said Lewis. "Each month, 15 million USD is needed just to meet the basic food supply for the Rohingya population, in addition to addressing other urgent needs."