Bangladesh minority group urges UN to investigate communal violence

“A call has been made to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to conduct an impartial investigation into incidents of communal atrocities against minorities,” Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad acting general secretary Monindro Kumar Nath told ANI.

He said, “From the afternoon of August 4, a day before the departure of the Sheikh Hasina government, to August 20, a total of 2,010 incidents of communal violence occurred in 68 districts and cities of Bangladesh.”

He further said that “Nine people were killed in these incidents. 69 places of worship were attacked, vandalised and set on fire.”

“There were four victims of atrocities, rape and gang rape on women. 915 houses were attacked, vandalised, looted and set on fire. 953 business establishments were attacked, vandalised, looted and set on fire. One house was occupied while 21 lands/commercial establishments were occupied. 38 persons were injured in physical abuse,” Nath said.

More than a month ago, a student-led movement ousted Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh's prime minister. The change came after weeks of violent protests and clashes that left more than 600 people dead.

Monindro Kumar Nath, acting general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, visited northern Bangladesh in mid-August as a member of a delegation of minority leaders and lawyers.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 5 August, resulting in the formation of an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.

At the invitation of the interim government, the UN Human Rights Office has launched a fact-finding mission to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into alleged human rights violations that took place between July 1 and August 15 this year, arising from the recent protests, the UN said in a statement.

The fact-finding team is tasked with establishing the facts, identifying responsibilities, analysing the root causes, and making concrete recommendations for Bangladesh to address past human rights violations and prevent their recurrence, the statement said.