UN demands accountability for Hasina-era killings, backs political participation for all

The United Nations has renewed its call for accountability over the deadly crackdown on Bangladesh's 2024 revolution while maintaining that all political parties and political figures should be free to participate in the country's political process.

“Obviously, we insist on accountability for the crimes that were committed in Bangladesh, including those that were documented by our fact-finding mission,” Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said on Tuesday.

He made the remarks during the UN's regular noon briefing in New York on November 10, responding to a question from Bangladeshi journalist Abu Sufian, who joined the briefing virtually.

Haq, however, drew a distinction between prosecuting crimes committed during the uprising and the right to political participation.

“But certainly, regarding political activity, we believe that all political parties and all political personalities should be free to participate,” he said.

The exchange came after Sufian asked about the UN's position on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her supporters, alleging that they were attempting to destabilise Bangladesh.

The journalist referred to the killings during the 2024 revolution and the findings of the UN's own investigation into the crackdown.

Haq did not directly address the allegation of renewed destabilisation or comment on Hasina's individual political future.

Instead, he reiterated two principles: accountability for documented crimes and political participation.

What the UN investigation found

The UN Human Rights Office published its fact-finding report on February 12, 2025, following an investigation conducted at the invitation of Bangladesh's interim government.

The report estimated that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed between July 15 and August 5, 2024, during the protests and the government's violent response.

Most victims were shot by security forces, while children accounted for an estimated 12% to 13% of those killed.

The investigation found reasonable grounds to believe that the former government, security and intelligence agencies, and violent elements associated with the Awami League had systematically committed serious human rights violations.

It said the violations were carried out with the knowledge, coordination and direction of political leaders and senior security officials.

The findings raised concerns that some of the violations could constitute crimes against humanity, requiring further criminal investigation.

The UN report also documented allegations of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and other abuses during the crackdown.

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