UN Rights Chief Welcomes Bangladesh's Abuse Prosecutions

Hundreds of people, including many children, were killed in the weeks-long protests led by Bangladeshi youth against corruption and unemployment in 2024.

Bangladesh has begun legal proceedings against security officials accused of authorising enforced disappearances and torture under the previous government—a move UN human rights chief Volker Türk called “an important step towards accountability.”

Last week, the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) submitted formal charges in two cases related to alleged abuses at the Task Force for Interrogation Cell and the Joint Interrogation Cell, including charges of crimes against humanity.

Officers and Officials Charged

As part of the action, arrest warrants were issued for several former military officers, including ex-Directors General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and former officials of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The Bangladesh military also announced it had detained over a dozen officers accused of serious crimes committed under the previous administration.

“This marks the first time that formal charges have been brought for enforced disappearances in the country. It is a significant moment for victims and their families,” High Commissioner Türk said.

He urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, particularly for detained officers. He also stressed the importance of protecting victims and witnesses, noting that “sensitive and significant cases must be handled carefully.”

Addressing Violations

Bangladesh’s ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances in August 2024, along with amendments to the International Crimes Tribunal Act, now formally recognises enforced disappearance as a crime under domestic law.

Nevertheless, Türk emphasised that pending cases—some dating back to the previous administration, which was forced from power by massive youth-led protests last year—must also be addressed. He called for the release of those arbitrarily detained.

As many as 1,400 people, including children, were reportedly killed during the weeks-long protest movement that led to the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She had been in power since January 2009, and earlier led Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001.

An End to Abuses

In its report, an OHCHR fact-finding mission found credible evidence of torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances that “may amount to crimes under international law.”

The report’s central recommendation—reiterated by High Commissioner Türk—was that Bangladesh must ensure those responsible for serious abuses, regardless of rank, face justice through fair and transparent proceedings.

He also called for an immediate halt to the use of the death penalty in these cases and urged the start of “a comprehensive process of truth-telling, reparation, healing, and justice” to ensure such abuses are never repeated.