Dhaka, Oct 8 – The Awami League announced on Monday that a fact‑finding team sent by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) — which toured Bangladesh from 16 September 2024 to 12 February 2025 and subsequently issued a report on the so‑called “July–August 2024 demonstrations” — has only received partial coverage in local media.
The party says the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has maintained heavy media censorship and that only the sections of the report that criticize former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her administration have been widely reported.
“Since 5 August, many journalists and civil‑society observers have noted a wave of reverse intimidation, with reporters and outlets hesitating to publish anything that might be seen as favorable to the Awami League or critical of its opponents,” the party cited. This excerpt also highlights a climate of fear that has taken hold after Hasina’s ousting.
“For the sake of truth, the Bangladeshi people need to know what else is in the OHCHR report. Since the media has already spotlighted everything that implicates the former Awami League government, it makes sense to focus on the remaining points,” the Awami League added.
According to the party, the violence in July–August caused a significant loss of life, yet the OHCHR report acknowledges that not all casualties were inflicted by state forces. The party alleges that various opportunistic groups also played a role in the unrest.
The party recalled that after the one‑sided election held under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on 25 February 1996, at least 171 protesters were killed within a month.
The Awami League stressed that Bangladesh must also confront the influence of militant groups. While no domestic militants were involved in 1996, the party argued that such groups were active in 2024.
“Pakistan‑based Jamaat‑ud‑Dawa and Lashkar‑e‑Taiba have openly claimed they were active on the ground during the so‑called 2024 movement. So it is more logical to call this a militant attack rather than a movement,” the party stated.
The Awami League pointed out that following Hasina’s departure for India on 5 August, thousands attacked the Jatrabari police station. According to international media reports cited by the party, more than 50 people were killed when police fired in self‑defence. A similar incident occurred at the Ashulia police station in Savar, and over 450 police stations throughout the country were attacked, resulting in many police and civilian casualties.
The party questioned whether Hasina, the Awami League, or its student wing, the Chhatra League, could be held accountable for those killings.
“Yet the OHCHR report, without proper investigation and with clear intent, attributes almost all deaths to the police and other security forces, and also blames the Awami League and especially the Chhatra League,” the Awami League observed.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
