Sexual crimes committed during movement: UN 

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) published the fact-finding report on the human rights violations and abuses during the student-led July-August mass uprising on Wednesday. 

High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk launched the report in Geneva at 9:30 am local time (2:30pm Bangladesh time). 

As many as 1,400 people could have been killed during the protests, the vast majority of whom were killed by military rifles and shotguns loaded with lethal metal pellets commonly used by Bangladesh’s security forces.

The UN said it had also documented cases of violent sexual crimes against women.

"One case of apparent revenge violence documented by OHCHR, and based on victim testimony, involved sexual violence. In August, a woman was intercepted by two men who appeared different from students based on their age and attire. They recognised her as being part of Chhatra League," the UN said in the OHCHR report.

“The men insulted her with comments of a sexual nature, grabbed her dress, slapped her face multiple times and punched her chest. A second, more severe attack a few days later against the same woman commenced in a similar manner. The attackers encircled her, ripped her clothes, groped her breasts and intimate parts, and ultimately raped her,” the UN said in the report.

The UN added that subsequently, the victim was denied healthcare at a hospital due to her political affiliation.

The UN fact-finding mission began investigating into human rights violations between July 1 and August 15. 

The five-member delegation deployed by the UN Human Rights Office at the invitation of the interim government began conducting an independent and impartial investigation on September 16. 

The mission visited various parts of the country and spoke to the individuals, groups and organisations to gather first-hand information concerning the period of July 1 to August 15, 2024 and human rights violations and abuses during that time. 

Source: Agencies