UN report on July killings to be published in December

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office at Tejgaon in the city on Wednesday.

The UN rights chief briefed the Chief Adviser about the work of the UN fact-finding mission and his meetings in Dhaka with advisers, the chief of army staff, heads of reform commissions, students, and officials.

Volker Türk informed the Chief Adviser that the independent UN Fact Finding Mission is preparing its report on atrocities committed during the July-August mass uprising in Bangladesh, and will hopefully finalise its report by the first week of December.

The UN rights chief also discussed the work of the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh that is now investigating heinous crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the revolution and the functions of reform commissions set up by the interim government to conduct meaningful reforms of the country's institutions. 

Türk said his office is extending support to the Inquiry Commission. 

He also urged the Chief Adviser to strengthen the National Human Rights Commission by making it independent and fully functional.

He said the UN rights agency would like to strengthen its presence in Dhaka.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus thanked the UN rights chief for visiting the country and for his support during the revolution. 

Prof Yunus said his government is committed to upholding the human rights of every citizen and also to making sure that development and human rights go hand in hand.

The UN rights chief and the Chief Adviser also discussed the Rohingya crisis, especially the influx of tens of thousands of new Rohingyas taking refuge in Bangladesh after fleeing violence in Myanmar.

Türk called for more international support for the Rohingya refugees and sustained efforts to resolve the crisis.

The Chief Adviser sought UN support to create a safe zone in Myanmar's Rakhine state so that the internally displaced people in the region can stay close to their homes.