Dhaka: The UN rights office has released a report alleging that armed Awami League (AL) leaders incited their activists, including those from the now-disbanded Chhatra League (BCL), to use violent means to suppress protests in July and August of 2024. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) detailed these findings in a report published last week at its Geneva headquarters.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the OHCHR report was based on firsthand testimonies from victims and witnesses, as well as analysis of images and videos. The report found that a wide range of armed Awami League supporters acted either jointly or in coordination with the police as the protests spread. It accused senior Awami League leaders of inciting violence among party members and BCL activists to support the government’s efforts to quash the protests.
From July 14 to 17, 2024, the report said, the protests primarily occurred on or near university campuses. During this time, violent individuals among the BCL, sometimes aided by other Awami League supporters, attacked student protesters with blunt and sharp weapons, and some firearms. The report emphasized that these attacks were incited by senior Awami League leaders and government officials.
Eyewitness accounts in the report described how, on the night of July 14, Awami League supporters, some armed, were transported to Dhaka University and established a menacing presence on campus. Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain reportedly addressed these supporters, stating, “From Monday [15 July], there will be no razakar on the streets of Bangladesh,” which the report noted as a directive to confront those creating unrest.
On July 15, Awami League General Secretary and Minister Obaidul Quader labeled the protestors as “arrogant,” asserting that “we are ready to take action.” He expressed readiness to counter the remarks made by leaders of the quota reform movement and to resist any force against the spirit of the liberation war.
The report recounted that government ministers previously branded student protesters as traitors or razakars, echoing sentiments introduced by then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While some former officials described these statements as political rhetoric, others distanced themselves, with one former cabinet member acknowledging a “mistake” in Quader’s statement.
No Awami League or Chhatra League leaders interviewed by OHCHR could point to any efforts by the Awami League leadership to retract these statements. Some interviewees acknowledged that the Awami League could control the deployment of its armed supporters to defend party offices from attacks.
The OHCHR report attributed a series of attacks on student protesters, following Awami League officials’ inciting remarks, directly to BCL members and supporters. These individuals used organized tactics, brandishing weapons and wearing helmets in confrontations.
The report cited an incident at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where Chhatra League supporters stormed emergency units, attacking injured students and medical personnel. Female students faced verbal and physical intimidation, with some being threatened with sexual violence.
As the protests continued, the report observed increased integration of armed Awami League supporters into state security efforts to quell the protests. Armed supporters often operated alongside police, launching attacks timed to support police efforts to disperse the protests.
The report concluded that this cooperation was facilitated by the politicization of the police under the former government, creating deep connections between the Awami League, Chhatra League, and the police.