The UN Fact-Finding Mission will release its report on February 13, Bangladesh time. The report is expected to include evidence of senior-level involvement by the former government in severe human rights violations and atrocities during July-August last year. 

Sources reveal that the UN shared a draft of the report with the Bangladesh government for feedback in the last week of January. The government responded last week. Consequently, the report will be officially released through a press conference in Geneva on February 13.

Spanning around 150 pages, the report outlines incidents, causes, and recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future. A source indicated that the mission found evidence of mass killings and human rights violations under the directives of senior leaders of the ousted Awami League government. The mission also recommended further investigations, though Bangladesh is not obligated to comply.

While UN Fact-Finding Missions have previously investigated human rights violations in other South Asian countries, this is the first for Bangladesh. The mission was prompted by allegations of excessive force and indiscriminate shootings during anti-quota protests in July-August last year.

Following massive protests, the Awami League government was overthrown on August 5, and an interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus took charge on August 8. Shortly after assuming office, Dr. Yunus urged UN human rights chief Volker Türk to investigate the violations.