By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN human rights office on Monday opposed to a death penalty and pushing for justice in Bangladesh after a domestic war crimes court in Bangladesh sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death on charges of crimes against humanity carried out during student protests last year.
UN human rights office in its response to the verdict reiterated its opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
The student protests which began over a quota system for public service jobs in Bangladesh quickly escalated into widespread demonstrations, which were violently repressed by national security forces, OHCHR noted.
The former Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled to India.
UN-led investigation into alleged crimes found that 1,400 people including many children have been killed while thousands were injured during July and August last year.
OHCHR described the verdict as “an important moment for victims of the grave violations committed during the suppression of protests last year.”
OHCHR has called for perpetrators including individuals in positions of command and leadership to be held accountable in accordance with international standards and for victims to have access to effective remedies and reparation.
The report found that the former Bangladeshi administration tried to systematically suppress the protests with increasingly violent means in order to remain in power.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk said that “The testimonies and evidence we gathered paint a disturbing picture of rampant State violence and targeted killings, that are amongst the most serious violations of human rights, and which may also constitute international crimes” .
“Accountability and justice are essential for national healing and for the future of Bangladesh.”
OHCHR has called for proceedings which “unquestionably” meet international standards of due process and fair trial, the agency said in its response.
The office advocates for the universal abolition of the death penalty and over the years, multiple UN resolutions have been passed to protect the rights of those facing capital punishment.
OHCHR said that the trial against Ms. Hasina and Mr. Khan was conducted in absentia and led to a capital sentence, making international standards “particularly vital,”.
Mr. Türk hopes Bangladesh will now move forward with a comprehensive process of “truth-telling, reparation and justice as the pathway to national reconciliation and healing.”
He called for calm “and for all to exercise restraint in response to these developments.”
