In a speech at Dhaka University on Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on Bangladeshis to “protect” their fragile democracy after the uprising that ousted long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. Addressing students at the university—where protests initially sparked the movement—Turk commended their courage while warning of the risks involved in rebuilding democratic institutions.
“Democracy is one of the most powerful ideas ever dreamed up by humanity,” Turk stated, “but it is also fragile, something we must nurture and protect—especially in its earliest stages.” The call comes just months after protests against job quotas escalated into a nationwide movement to end Hasina’s 15-year rule, resulting in over 700 deaths amid a violent crackdown before Hasina fled to India on August 5.
Several former student protest leaders now hold positions in an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Hasina’s time in power was marked by reported human rights abuses, mass arrests, and extrajudicial killings of political opponents, with a Bangladeshi court recently issuing an arrest warrant for the ousted leader.
Turk, on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of strengthening institutions and warned against “the ends justify the means” approach, urging students to prioritize justice and equality in their push for democratic reform. “The process through which you seek change is just as crucial as the outcome,” he advised.
Highlighting the need to move beyond cycles of revenge and retaliation, Turk added, “The present and future belong to equality and justice.” His visit includes meetings with Yunus, the chief justice, the army chief, and other leaders to discuss Bangladesh's path forward.
