Former Bangladeshi authorities resorted to extreme brutality during the July uprising, despite widespread public opposition, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

In a report released by the UN Human Rights Office on Wednesday, Türk highlighted systematic human rights violations by the former government, along with security and intelligence agencies, during last year’s student-led protests. The report detailed how the regime persistently employed violent methods to suppress dissent and remain in power.

Türk stated there were credible grounds to believe that hundreds of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and acts of torture occurred as part of coordinated efforts by political leaders and senior security officials to crush protests. Evidence and testimonies collected depicted alarming state-sponsored violence, targeted killings, and potential violations amounting to international crimes.

At the request of interim government chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the UN Human Rights Office sent a delegation to Bangladesh last September to investigate the violence. The team included human rights investigators, a forensic pathologist, and a weapons expert. The interim government fully cooperated, granting access to requested sites and providing extensive documentation.

Based on reliable sources, the report estimated over 1,400 fatalities between July 1 and August 15, with thousands injured, mostly due to gunfire from Bangladeshi security forces. Among the deceased, 12–13% were children, while police reported losing 44 officers during the unrest.