UN Reports 1,400 Killed in Bangladesh Protests

A recent UN report reveals that up to 1,400 people may have been killed during last summer's crackdown on student-led protests in Bangladesh against the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The report indicates that security forces systematically engaged in rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and torture, which could amount to crimes against humanity. The protests, initially sparked by a controversial quota system for public service jobs, escalated into broader demonstrations against corruption and economic inequality, leading to a violent government response. According to the UN, the majority of those killed were shot by security forces, with reports suggesting that children made up 12-13% of the fatalities. UN human rights chief Volker Turk emphasized that the violence was part of a coordinated strategy by the former government to suppress dissent and maintain power. The situation calls for urgent investigations into the actions of the security forces and political leadership during this period.