Staff Correspondent
The High Court has directed the government to declare the United Nations Human Rights Commission’s report a ‘historical document’ and publish it in the official gazette. On Thursday, a bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mobina Asaf delivered this verdict. The court ordered the gazette notification to be published under the title “July Revolution-2024” within the next three months.
This recognition has been accorded to the UN report, which investigated the security forces’ harsh crackdown on student and public protests in July 2024. The report alleges that, under the instructions of the then-government, security forces carried out planned operations targeting protesters. As a result, more than 1,400 people were killed, and thousands were injured.
The verdict also emphasized that the case will remain ongoing to prevent any future elected government from influencing the judicial process. Advocate Tanvir Ahmed, representing the writ petitioner, stated that this ruling would pave the way for legal action against the perpetrators.
A significant allegation in the UN report is that security forces also targeted children and women. Documented evidence confirms that horrific incidents, such as sexual violence by Awami League supporters, took place. With this verdict, the report has now gained official recognition as a historical document.