UN report on July uprising is a historic document: HC

The High Court (HC) has ordered the government to recognize the UN OHCHR fact-finding report on human rights violations during the July Uprising as a historic document.

The court further directed the cabinet secretary and other concerned authorities to issue a gazette notification within three months, officially recognizing it as the "July Revolution 2024." It also declared the case a continuing matter.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Mubina Asaf issued the order today (August 21) in response to a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Tanvir Ahmed.

Petitioner Tanvir Ahmed said that the court had previously issued a rule questioning why the UN report on human rights violations during the July Uprising should not be recognized as a historic document and preserved for future generations for research and knowledge.

Tanvir filed the writ on 13 August last year, and after an initial hearing, the High Court issued a rule on 15 August.

He said, “After analyzing human rights violations in Bangladesh from July 1 to August 15 last year, the fact-finding team of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a report in February. The report, prepared after speaking to many seriously injured people and protestors, was included in the supplementary petition of the writ this month.”

After hearing the supplementary petition, the High Court issued two more rules on May 14. The rules asked why the UN fact-finding report on human rights violations during the July-August uprising should not be declared a ‘historic document’ and why it should not be preserved for future research and knowledge.

Tanvir Ahmed said, “The scheduled day to announce the rulings on those rules was August 3. However, the High Court delivered the judgment on Thursday after the state requested more time.”

Tanvir Ahmed himself represented the petitioner in the hearing, while Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman and Tanim Khan, along with Assistant Attorney General Ikramul Kabir, appeared for the state.

Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman said, “The Law Ministry has been directed to consider the report as evidence and a historic document in Bangladesh and to publish it as a gazette within three months. The ministry has also been asked to submit a compliance report during this period. The supplementary rules have been declared absolute.”