UN rights chief seeks govt steps to prevent further violence

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has urged for immediate steps by the government to prevent further violence and ensure accountability.

In a post on X, formerly Tweeter, Turk said, "As rallies and internet restrictions continue, along with appalling new reports of violence by security forces and groups affiliated with the government, the government needs to take immediate right to ensure right to peaceful assembly and right to information."

On July 23, Turk had written a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, offering to deploy an independent fact-finding team to assist the Bangladesh government in building trust among all stakeholders and to help de-escalate tensions.

"In these challenging times, my office is ready to support your efforts in resolving the current crisis," he said in the letter.