The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a report highlighting the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations during the 2024 uprising in Bangladesh. The OHCHR`s fact-finding mission found no genuine effort by the ousted government to hold security forces and their affiliates accountable for abuses during the protests.

The report, covering the period between July 1 and August 5, 2024, stated that, despite Bangladesh`s own laws, former senior officials confirmed that no investigations were conducted into the security forces` use of firearms. Additionally, allegations of torture and ill-treatment were not investigated, with former officials citing the "pressing security situation" at the time and claiming no victim complaints were received.

The OHCHR emphasized that credible local and international media reports, along with human rights groups` findings, should have prompted investigations. However, the former government authorities made no meaningful efforts to ensure accountability for violations by security forces or Awami League supporters.

The report also revealed that concerns about excessive use of force were raised by a senior official in a meeting with then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in early August 2024. Despite these concerns, the government continued to focus solely on protesters actions, as evidenced by the judicial inquiry announced by Hasina on July 17, 2024. The inquiry, which was assigned to investigate deaths and violence related to the quota reform movement, was criticized for its one-sided approach, which ignored security forces violence.

According to the OHCHR, the inquiry made no interim report or findings before halting operations on August 5, 2024. Instead of ensuring accountability, authorities appeared to coordinate efforts to suppress the truth about the violations. The report also detailed how intelligence agencies of police and other forces monitored hospitals, confiscated records, and in some cases, concealed evidence, such as removing bodies or projectiles from victims.

Furthermore, the OHCHR reported that police and RAB units were given unrecorded ammunition to cover up their extensive shooting during the protests. The RAB later claimed that 14 out of its 15 battalions did not fire a single bullet, a statement inconsistent with documented cases of RAB shootings.

The report also pointed to the intimidation of victims, their families, journalists, and anyone demanding accountability for the killings. Authorities sought to conceal security forces` violations by falsely accusing others, including arresting hundreds in connection with the killing of Abu Sayed, despite video evidence showing police involvement.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was also criticized for its lack of action, with the OHCHR noting that while the NHRC issued a vague statement on July 30, 2024, condemning the loss of life, it failed to launch any investigations or public interventions during the uprising.

The OHCHR concluded that the past government made no effort to address human rights violations, and instead, coordinated efforts to suppress the truth about the events.