UN human rights chief urges calm following assassination of Bangladesh protest leader

UN human rights chief urges calm following assassination of Bangladesh protest leader
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UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday urged Bangladeshi authorities and protesters to refrain from violence following the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, JURIST NEWS reported.

A prominent leader of the 2024 protests in Bangladesh, Hadi died from gunshot wounds sustained during an assassination attempt last week.

Türk stated that his office is prepared to work with authorities and all stakeholders to support efforts that uphold human rights and prevent further violence.

Hadi, 32, was a public voice of the “Platform for Revolution,” and planned on running for parliament in the upcoming February elections. He gained notoriety as a leader of the 2024 student-led protests and as a critic of Indian influence in Bangladeshi politics.

While initially welcomed, the interim government has been plagued by a deteriorating human rights situation and political repression. Last month the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch raised concerns over the lack of a fair trial.