DHAKA, Sept 16, 2024 (BSS) - At the invitation of the Interim Government, a UN Human Rights Office fact-finding is conducting 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 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, a press release said here today. 

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 1 July to 15 August 2024 and human rights violations and abuses in the context of the protests during that period, it added. 

Submissions should be sent to OHCHR-FFTB- [email protected], said the release. 

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

The fact-finding is not a criminal investigation and is conducted independently of any national criminal justice process.

The fact-finding process is strictly confidential. The team will not be conducting any media interviews during the investigation phase. We appeal for respect for the confidentiality of the fact-finding process.

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.