Trouble Mounting For Yunus? US-Based Rights Group Seeks UN Probe Into Bangladesh Violence

Last Updated:July 19, 2025, 08:00 IST

As diplomatic pressure mounts and civil society voices grow louder, the coming weeks may prove critical for both Yunus and Bangladesh’s political landscape

According to the BHRW, the violence was triggered by actions of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), a newly emergent political force linked to Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who is already under increasing scrutiny. (IMAGE: AFP file)

The international pressure on Bangladesh continues to grow following the recent Gopalganj violence, with a second human rights body now raising alarm bells at the United Nations.

Soon after a UK-based group petitioned UN Secretary-General António Guterres, a US-based organisation, Bangladesh Human Rights Watch (BHRW), has written a letter to the UN chief, calling for immediate international intervention.

The BHRW letter, accessed by News18, strongly indicts the Bangladesh Army, pointing to its alleged complicity in the violent crackdown in Gopalganj — the political bastion of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The organisation claimed the clashes led to at least 21 deaths, although the government has not released an official toll.

According to the BHRW, the violence was triggered by actions of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), a newly emergent political force linked to Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who is already under increasing scrutiny.

The rights group raised concerns over the potential role of “the king’s party", which apparently NCP has come to be known as, and has accused them of enabling “vandalising, destroying and burning both public and private properties, Hindu temples, other religious institutions, statues of national heroes, and even businesses and factories." It called for an independent international investigation into the incident and pressed for the deployment of UN human rights observers in Bangladesh to monitor the situation.

“Continued silence from the international community risks enabling further violations," the BHRW said in its appeal, adding that Bangladesh’s human rights climate has rapidly deteriorated in recent months.

This comes on the heels of a similar demand from the ICR Foundation, a UK-based group, which also sought a UN fact-finding mission and raised alarm over the alleged attempt by NCP supporters to “desecrate and demolish" the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father.

The Yunus camp has not officially responded to the latest development, but sources close to him maintain that the Nobel laureate is being “maliciously targeted" due to his political views and past criticism of the government.

As diplomatic pressure mounts and civil society voices grow louder, the coming weeks may prove critical for both Yunus and Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Anindya Banerjee

Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ...Read More

Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ...

Read More

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News world Trouble Mounting For Yunus? US-Based Rights Group Seeks UN Probe Into Bangladesh Violence