The UN warned the Bangladesh Army of a potential peacekeeping ban during the July uprising, Türk stated

UN Warned Bangladesh Army of Potential Peacekeeping Ban Over July Uprising

• The United Nations cautioned the Bangladesh Army that its involvement in suppressing student-led protests during the July uprising could result in exclusion from peacekeeping missions, revealed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
• Türk made this statement during an episode of the BBC World Service’s HARDtalk program, hosted by Stephen Sackur and published on Wednesday.
• The UN rights chief addressed various global issues, including Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.

UN's Role in Bangladesh Crisis

• During the interview, Sackur noted the UN’s perceived limitations in enforcing international law.
• In response, Türk cited Bangladesh as an instance where UN intervention had an impact.
• He explained that during the July-August 2023 protests, students demonstrated against the previous government under Sheikh Hasina amid widespread repression.
• According to Türk, the UN’s vocal stance played a crucial role in highlighting the situation.
• “We issued a warning to the army that any involvement could jeopardize their status as a troop-contributing country,” he stated.
• He claimed this intervention led to noticeable changes.

UN's Continued Engagement

• Türk further mentioned that when Muhammad Yunus assumed the role of chief adviser in the interim administration, he promptly requested a UN fact-finding mission to investigate the situation.
• “We conducted the mission, and it made a difference,” Türk stated.
• Reflecting on his visit to Bangladesh, he noted that students expressed gratitude for the UN’s support and advocacy.