Steps taken to bring killings, disappearance cases to international courts: Yunus

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced today that the interim government has initiated steps to bring those involved in disappearances, killings, and the July-August killings to international courts.
He made the remarks during his speech to the nation on the ongoing investigations into widespread human rights abuses over the past 15 years.
Yunus reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to justice, stating that legal action would be pursued not only for the July-August atrocities but also for all acts of violence and forced disappearances carried out during the last 15 years.
“Numerous people have suffered from enforced disappearance and been murdered during this period,” Yunus said, revealing that a commission tasked with investigating these crimes has already uncovered information on 1,600 disappearances as of October.
“The commission believes this number will exceed 3,500,” he added.
Acknowledging the fear many victims and families feel about coming forward, Yunus said, “Report your complaints to the commission with full confidence. No one has the power to harm you again.”
“We have received deeply distressing accounts from members of the commission regarding the victims. After the July-August revolution, students wrote their thoughts on the walls of the city. Those who were previously victimised wrote about their anguish on the walls of those hidden lairs. Their suffering has deeply shaken us,” he said.
The government has also engaged with international organisations to ensure accountability.
“We have taken steps to bring those responsible for disappearances, killings, and the July-August genocide to international courts,” Yunus stated.
He disclosed that discussions had already been held with Karim Khan, the lead strategist of the International Criminal Court, regarding this matter.
Yunus highlighted the government’s ratification of the International Convention Against Disappearances to prevent future crimes by law enforcement or other groups.
He also noted the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to Bangladesh, during which the UN pledged to assist in investigating the July-August killings.
“They have promised to deliver their report by the first week of December,” Yunus said, adding that the UN has also offered to increase their manpower in Dhaka to aid in protecting human rights—a proposal the government has accepted.