Bangladesh Protests Probe Reveals Top Leaders Led Brutal Repression
February 12, 2025
Dhaka, Bangladesh – An independent probe into deadly protests in Bangladesh has concluded that top government officials, including the prime minister and interior minister, orchestrated and oversaw a brutal crackdown that resulted in scores of deaths and disappearances.
The probe commission, established by the United Nations Human Rights Council, released its report on February 12 after a year-long investigation. According to the report, senior members of the ruling Awami League government planned and implemented a systematic campaign of repression against protesters demanding free and fair elections.
The commission found that the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and the interior minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, were directly involved in authorizing the use of excessive force by security forces. The report also implicated several senior police and military officials in carrying out the crackdown.
The protests erupted in December 2022 following allegations of widespread fraud in national elections. Security forces responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, resulting in the deaths of at least 50 protesters and the disappearance of dozens more.
The probe commission’s report detailed numerous instances of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and sexual violence by security forces. It also found evidence of a cover-up by government officials, who fabricated evidence and threatened witnesses.
The report has sparked widespread outrage in Bangladesh and calls for the resignation of the prime minister. Opposition parties and human rights groups have condemned the crackdown as a gross violation of fundamental rights and a betrayal of democracy.
“The government’s response to the protests was a crime against its own people,” said Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a leading human rights activist. “Those responsible must be held accountable.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed deep concern over the findings of the probe commission. He called on the Bangladeshi government to implement the commission’s recommendations, including the prosecution of those responsible for human rights violations.
The Bangladeshi government has rejected the report as politically motivated and accused the probe commission of bias. Prime Minister Hasina said that the protests were instigated by “foreign powers” and that security forces had acted appropriately to maintain order.
However, the probe commission’s findings have been corroborated by numerous independent accounts and investigations by international human rights organizations. The evidence suggests that the crackdown against the protesters was a deliberate and orchestrated campaign by the highest levels of government in Bangladesh.
If the findings of the probe commission are upheld, it will be a major setback for democracy and human rights in Bangladesh. It will also cast a shadow over the country’s reputation as a relatively tolerant and progressive Muslim-majority nation.
Bangladesh protests probe reveals top leaders led brutal repression
The AI has provided us with the news.
I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.
Peace and Security a new article on 2025-02-12 12:00 titled “Bangladesh protests probe reveals top leaders led brutal repression”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
11