Momen Seeks UN Action Over 'Persecution and Rule of Law Breakdown' in Bangladesh
Former Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who also served as Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the United Nations, has appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene in what he described as Bangladesh's "deteriorating human rights, political, and humanitarian situation" since April 2025. Momen cited increasing repression, extrajudicial actions, and a disregard for democratic and humanitarian principles in his letter.
In a letter dated October 28, 2025, addressed to UNHRC President Jürg Lauber in Geneva and copied to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Momen warned that recent developments in Bangladesh demonstrate "a pattern of persecution and disregard for the rule of law."
Momen’s appeal comes at a time when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing charges of crimes against humanity at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. Prosecutors have sought the death penalty on five counts, including incitement, command responsibility, and joint criminal enterprise, over the deaths of 1,400 people during the July-August 2024 crackdown on protests.
Sheikh Hasina, who served as Bangladesh’s prime minister for over 15 years, fled to India on August 5, 2024, following the July Uprising and remains there.
In his letter, Momen urged the UN and its mechanisms to take "urgent" steps to monitor, investigate, and respond to the unfolding crisis in Bangladesh.
He highlighted the government’s move to ban all activities of the Awami League, Bangladesh’s largest and oldest political party, on May 11, 2025, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Two days later, the Election Commission suspended the party’s registration, effectively preventing it from contesting elections.
Momen also criticized amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, which, according to him, were passed “without due process to enable the prosecution of entire political entities.” He urged the UN to pressure Bangladesh to rescind the bans, restore political pluralism, and halt the misuse of anti-terror laws against political parties.
Enforced Disappearances and Accountability
Referring to a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) from February 12, 2025, Momen stated it had documented killings, torture, and enforced disappearances linked to the July-August 2024 protests, calling for accountability. On October 15, 2025, the OHCHR welcomed “important steps toward accountability” after the International Crimes Tribunal issued charges and arrest warrants in cases involving enforced disappearances and torture.
However, Momen emphasized that the 25 accused individuals, including current and former Army officers (many of whom are UN peacekeepers), must be tried in "civilian courts with fair-trial guarantees." He expressed concern that 15 of the officers had already been taken into Army custody, raising fears of “retaliation, torture, or incommunicado detention."
Momen urged the UN to reaffirm the need for civilian court jurisdiction, provide technical support to ensure due process, and monitor the treatment of the accused to prevent abuse.
Indemnity for Perpetrators of Violence
Momen also called on the UN to declare any indemnity or legislative protection granted to perpetrators of killings and grave human rights violations as “illegal, void, and contrary to international law and the principles of justice.” He argued that such immunity “perpetuates impunity and obstructs reconciliation.”
“All executive orders granting indemnity or legislative protection to killers and grave human rights violators must be withdrawn immediately,” the letter stated. “No one should be above the law.”
Freedom of Expression and Media Rights
Momen expressed alarm at the continued harassment, detention, and violence against journalists and human rights defenders, noting that these actions had chilled public discourse. He urged the UN to demand an immediate end to such intimidation and to support independent investigations into attacks on media personnel.
Protection of Minorities
From August 2024 to June 2025, civil-society monitors reported 2,442 incidents targeting Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian communities, according to Momen, citing the EUAA Country Focus report (August 2025). He called on the UN to press for stronger policing against “mob” violence and to assist in protecting vulnerable communities.
Mass Arrests and Arbitrary Detentions
Momen’s letter also highlighted mass-arrest operations such as “Operation Devil Hunt,” which he claimed had led to widespread “arbitrary detentions and ill-treatment.” He noted that both UN and media reports had documented high casualties and mass detentions during the 2024 crackdown, underscoring the need for transparent and accountable security operations.
The letter urged the UN to demand transparency, ensure detainee registries, and guarantee access to counsel, family contact, and medical examination for those in custody.
Specific UN Actions Sought
In conclusion, Momen proposed a series of specific actions the UNHRC and OHCHR should take:
- Establish a fact-finding and monitoring mandate focused on enforced disappearances, torture, political persecution, and minority protection in Bangladesh.
- Press for civilian trials in the cases involving the “25 officers” and related cases, in line with ICCPR due-process standards.
- Call for the release of arbitrarily detained individuals and protect lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders from reprisals.
- Support judicial independence and accountability, emphasizing that “the judiciary must not be a tool of extortion.”
Source: bdnews24
