Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s legal counsel, Steven Powles, has raised concerns about the accuracy of a UN Fact-Finding Report on the 2024 protests in Bangladesh. Powles wrote to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighting discrepancies in the report’s findings, especially regarding the number of protesters killed during the unrest.
Powles accused the interim government of spreading misleading information to justify the removal of the Hasina-led government. He pointed out that official records suggest a significantly lower casualty figure than what was reported in the UN document. Powles emphasized the need for a correction to maintain the credibility of the fact-finding process.
The letter to the UN also questioned the impartiality of the fact-finding mission, suggesting influence from political opponents of Hasina. Powles urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to retract the claim of 1,400 protesters killed and correct the inaccuracies in the report. He emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of the investigation process.
