After the UN published a report on human rights violations during the student protests in July and August, UNICEF expressed deep concern, calling it heartbreaking. In a statement sent to the media, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, voiced this concern.
Citing the report from the UN Human Rights Office, she stated that between July 1 and August 15, a total of 1,400 people were killed, including over a hundred children. UNICEF has already reported on many of these deaths and continues to work to determine the exact number of children killed or injured. “We mourn each and every one of them,” she added.
Rana Flowers also highlighted the violence against women and children during the coup, stating that records show various forms of gender-based violence, including physical abuse, threats of rape, to prevent women from participating in protests.
She further noted that children were not spared from this violence. Many were killed, maimed, arbitrarily arrested, detained in inhumane conditions, and subjected to torture.
In her statement, Flowers mentioned three specific incidents of violence against children. She said, “A heartbreaking incident occurred in Dhanmondi, where a 12-year-old protester died from internal bleeding after being hit by 200 metal pellets. Another tragic event took place in Narayanganj, where a six-year-old girl was shot in the head while standing on her rooftop, witnessing the clashes. The most horrifying day of the protests was August 5, when a 12-year-old boy from Azampur described the police shooting, saying— ‘Bullets were raining down everywhere.’ He saw at least a dozen dead bodies that day.” She emphasized that these incidents should alarm everyone.
UNICEF urged all people in Bangladesh to ensure that such tragedies never happen to children in the country again.
Based on these findings its previous statements on these tragic events, UNICEF called on all policymakers, key political figures, officials in Bangladesh to help children, youth, families heal from physical and mental trauma, restore hope, move forward.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasized the need for urgent action in three key areas:
First, accountability must be ensured for the children who lost their lives, their grieving families, with necessary and effective measures taken.
Second, it is crucial to unite for the rehabilitation, justice of those who are still detained and whose lives have been impacted by these events.
Third, this period must be utilized for positive change. All political leaders, parties, policymakers must come together for reforms in the police and judicial systems, ensuring that no child in Bangladesh is ever detained unlawfully or without due process again. Children should not face torture or violence while peacefully assembling to exercise their rights. Only then can the rights of Bangladesh’s children to protection, dignity, justice be upheld.
LND/SAKIB
