Bangladesh interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday said that the interim government was working to build a broad national consensus around a renewed political system to ensure inclusive, participatory, and credible elections.
鈥極ur goal is to establish a society where all Bangladeshis can live in peace,聽 with pride, with freedom, and with dignity,鈥� he said while speaking at the UN event on the July uprising and fact-finding report held at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka.
Reflecting on the July 2024 uprising, Professor Yunus said that the interim government鈥檚 reform agenda was ongoing. He emphasised the importance of legal accountability for human rights violations committed during the uprising.
鈥楯ustice is not only about punishment鈥攊t is also about ensuring that state power can never again be used to silence or destroy its own people,鈥� he said.
The chief adviser paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the July uprising, calling their sacrifices the foundation of a new Bangladesh rooted in hope, human rights, and democratic renewal.
He also acknowledged the support of the international community, especially the United Nations, for standing by Bangladesh during critical moments in its history, including the Liberation War, the Rohingya crisis, and the events of July 2024.
Highlighting the findings of the UN fact-finding mission, Yunus noted that the report revealed an estimated 1,400 deaths in a matter of weeks and described the violence as systematic and directed by the previous regime. The report raised concerns over potential crimes against humanity and was corroborated by international media investigations.
鈥榃e are grateful to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for documenting these abuses and offering a set of recommendations to prevent future violations,鈥� he said.
Professor Yunus added that his government had already initiated several key reforms, including amending the Code of Criminal Procedure, acceding to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the OHCHR to establish a support mission in Dhaka.
The OHCHR Mission will provide technical assistance for reform efforts and capacity-building for government institutions, local authorities, and civil society.
The chief adviser thanked UN secretary-general Ant贸nio Guterres for his support and visit to Bangladesh earlier this year, along with OHCHR high commissioner Volker T眉rk, the fact-finding team, UN resident coordinator Gwyn Lewis, and senior human rights adviser Huma Khan.
He concluded by reaffirming Bangladesh鈥檚 commitment to reform and to its partnership with the United Nations in safeguarding human rights and democracy.