Accountability Must Align with Fair Trial Standards in Bangladesh: Türk

Dhaka, July 30, 2025 – Marking the first anniversary of the July 2024 protests in Bangladesh, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged that accountability for violations and crimes committed during the unrest must adhere to fair trial standards rooted in international human rights law. In a video message, Türk emphasized, “It must not repeat past cycles of retributive justice, including the use of the death penalty.”

The United Nations Human Rights Mission in Dhaka organized an event on Tuesday, attended by senior political leaders, civil society members, youth representatives, and international partners. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus was the chief guest, with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, and Senior Human Rights Adviser Huma Khan among the speakers. Türk called for a comprehensive approach to transitional justice, including truth-seeking and reparations for past abuses, starting with a national dialogue involving victims, families, and citizens. He stressed the need for legal and institutional reforms, particularly in the security sector, to prevent such violations in the future. “Repressive laws and institutions that enabled these violations must be dismantled or overhauled,” he said. Reflecting on the protests, Türk honored the memory of those killed and the thousands who suffered life-changing injuries, noting that the protests, led largely by students and youth, were a powerful demand for a just and inclusive society. He recalled meeting these young activists during his visit to Bangladesh last year. Türk welcomed the interim government’s efforts to implement recommendations from the UN Human Rights Office’s Fact-Finding Mission, which investigated “systematic and serious” human rights abuses during the protests. The mission found that the former government and its security services engaged in a coordinated strategy to retain power at all costs. Türk emphasized that accountability and justice are essential for national healing and reaffirmed the UN’s support for Bangladesh in achieving these goals

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