Bangladesh Protests Probe Reveals Top Leaders Led Brutal Repression
February 12, 2025
Dhaka, Bangladesh – A comprehensive investigation into the deadly protests that erupted in Bangladesh in 2023 has revealed that top government leaders, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, played a significant role in directing the brutal crackdown on demonstrators.
The investigation, conducted by an independent international commission appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, found that the government’s security forces used excessive and indiscriminate force against protesters, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people, including students, journalists, and human rights activists.
Top-Level Directives
According to the report, Prime Minister Hasina, Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and other high-ranking officials issued clear directives to security forces to “quell the unrest” by any means necessary. This included the use of live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets against unarmed protesters.
The commission’s findings also revealed that the government employed undercover agents to infiltrate protest groups with the aim of discrediting and disrupting their activities. These agents spread misinformation and incited violence among protesters, contributing to the escalating tension.
Systematic Suppression
The protesters, who were demanding free and fair elections and an end to corruption, were subjected to systematic suppression by the government. Security forces raided homes, arrested activists, and shut down independent media outlets.
The commission’s report condemned the government’s actions as a “gross violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.” It called for the government to hold accountable those responsible for the violence and to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
International Condemnation
The findings of the investigation have sparked widespread international condemnation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called the report “deeply disturbing” and urged the Bangladeshi government to take immediate action to implement its recommendations.
Human rights organizations and democratic governments around the world have also expressed their outrage and demanded accountability for the perpetrators of these crimes.
Domestic Response
The Bangladeshi government has yet to respond to the commission’s findings directly. However, Prime Minister Hasina has previously dismissed similar international criticisms as “interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.”
Despite the government’s silence, the report has reignited domestic anger over the 2023 protests and raised questions about the true nature of the ruling party’s commitment to democracy and human rights.
Bangladesh protests probe reveals top leaders led brutal repression
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