Govt to Help UN Fact-Finding Mission: Foreign Advisor

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17 Sep 2024, 19:32

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The United Nations fact-finding team is staying in Dhaka to assess the atrocities that took place in July-August during the continuous program of the anti-discrimination student movement that started with the quota reform and ended with the fall of the government. Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain said that they will not be interfered in any of their work so that they can carry out investigations impartially.

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He said this while facing the journalists after a courtesy meeting with the United Nations fact-finding team at his office on Tuesday (September 17).

Five members of the United Nations fact-finding team are currently in Dhaka to investigate the July-August atrocities. Three more members are expected to arrive in Dhaka very soon.

Hossain said the fact-finding mission that arrived in Bangladesh is yet to begin their work. The fact-finding mission will work in Dhaka for a week. They want to avoid publicity. They don't want to say anything before finishing the job.

"We also want a completely impartial investigation. We will not interfere. If they need any help; They think that we are willing to provide security, accommodation, etc. when they go to a certain place; That's all I told them," he added.

However, The fact-finding process is strictly confidential. The team will not be conducting any media interviews during the investigation phase.

At the invitation of the interim government, a UN Human Rights Office fact-finding team is conducting an independent and impartial investigation into alleged human rights violations that took place between 1 July and 15 August this year, arising from the recent protests.

The fact-finding team is mandated to establish facts, identify responsibilities, analyze root causes, and make concrete recommendations for Bangladesh to address past human rights violations and prevent their recurrence.

Individuals, groups, and organizations are invited to provide first-hand information that is not already on social media or otherwise in the public domain concerning the period of July 1 to August 15, 2024, and human rights violations and abuses in the context of the protests during that period.

The team also plans to conduct interviews with victims, law enforcement officers, medical practitioners, and witnesses.

After its on-site examination and data analysis, the UN Human Rights Office will publish a detailed human rights report containing key findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

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