DAVOS (Switzerland), January 22, 2025 – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, announced that the UN’s fact-finding report on the atrocities committed during the July-August uprising in Bangladesh is in its final stages and is expected to be released by mid-February.
Türk made the announcement during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. He confirmed that the report, detailing the violent events during the student-led uprising, would be shared with the Bangladeshi authorities prior to its official publication from the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva.
Professor Yunus expressed gratitude for the UN’s efforts in investigating the atrocities and emphasized the importance of the report in understanding the full scope of the violence. He also mentioned that the six major independent reform commissions’ reports, which are expected to be released around the same time, might complement the UN’s findings.
In the meeting, Professor Yunus also urged High Commissioner Türk for continued support in addressing the Rohingya crisis, which has escalated due to the influx of tens of thousands of new refugees from Myanmar. Türk assured Yunus of his support, stating that he was in ongoing discussions with key stakeholders, including UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop.
Professor Yunus proposed the creation of a UN-monitored safe zone in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to prevent further Rohingya refugee flows. He highlighted the importance of the upcoming high-level conference on the Rohingya crisis, which aims to refocus international attention on one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. Türk agreed, emphasizing the crucial need for such a conference to reinvigorate global efforts.
The meeting was also attended by Lamiya Morshed, SDG Coordinator of the Bangladesh government, and Tareq Ariful Islam, Bangladesh’s Permanent Ambassador to Geneva.