April 4, 2025 6:27 pm
Full News

Bangladeshi American Diaspora Urges UN to Investigate Volker Türk Over Alleged Overreach

New York, April 4, 2025 – A group representing the Bangladeshi American diaspora has formally requested the United Nations (UN) to investigate and suspend Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, for allegedly exceeding his authority and interfering in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. The demand comes after Türk’s statements on BBC HARDtalk, where he reportedly warned the Bangladesh Army about potential repercussions, including bans from UN peacekeeping missions, during the political unrest of July and August 2024.

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the diaspora group accused Türk of breaching Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the organization from intervening in a member state’s domestic matters. The signatories argue that Türk’s comments may have directly influenced Bangladesh’s political transition, leading to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the rise of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

The letter further asserts that Türk’s actions went beyond the mandate of his position and lacked the necessary authorization from the UN Security Council or the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). They claim his remarks created an undue influence on Bangladesh’s military leadership at a critical political juncture, potentially affecting the democratic stability of the country.

Concerns Over OHCHR’s Report on Bangladesh

The letter also criticizes the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for alleged bias in its report on the 2024 protests. The signatories claim that the report disproportionately blamed the Awami League-led government for human rights abuses while failing to acknowledge the widespread violence carried out by opposition groups, Islamist militants, and criminal elements.

According to the letter, the OHCHR’s omissions include:

Mob violence and killings at universities following the protests.

Arson attacks targeting businesses, homes, and industries affiliated with the Awami League.

Targeted assassinations of Awami League supporters, escalating political tensions.

The release of Islamist militants from prison, allegedly playing a role in the unrest.

The alleged involvement of Muhammad Yunus in orchestrating the protests, raising concerns about external political influences.

The letter also points to confessions from protest organizers who admitted to violent acts, including arson and murder, calling into question the objectivity of the OHCHR’s findings.

Call for Independent Investigation

The Bangladeshi American diaspora group has urged the UN to take the following immediate actions:

  1. Launch a transparent and independent investigation into Türk’s role in Bangladesh’s political transition and his potential conflicts of interest.
  2. Suspend Volker Türk from his position while the investigation is conducted.
  3. Examine potential bias in the OHCHR’s reports and ensure future UN assessments on Bangladesh provide a balanced view.
  4. Investigate any personal or political affiliations between Türk and Muhammad Yunus that may have influenced his decisions.

Implications for the UN’s Credibility

The controversy surrounding Volker Türk raises broader concerns about the UN’s role in maintaining neutrality and respecting national sovereignty. If proven that Türk acted beyond his mandate, this could set a dangerous precedent for UN officials engaging in political interventions in sovereign states.

The global community, especially countries contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions, will closely watch how the UN addresses these allegations. Failure to ensure accountability could impact trust in the organization’s ability to function impartially on international matters.

As the call for an inquiry gains momentum, it remains to be seen how the UN leadership will respond to the demands for transparency and accountability regarding its human rights operations.

Related News
CPM Urges Bangladesh to Ensure Minority Safety, Compares Fundamentalist Forces to Hindutva Groups in India
The Melting Borders of High Mountains: Climate Change’s Profound Impact
60 Bodies Recovered from Gold Mine in South Africa
Another masterclass of Real Madrid’s lullaby football and flick’s another masterclass in El Clasico.
Indian Rupee Hits All-Time Low: 1 Dollar Equals 86 Rupees
Mamta Kulkarni Returns to India After 25 Years, Shares Emotional Video
Related Posts
Trump Administration Moves Forward with Rifle Sale to Israel Despite Prior Hold
Modi Focuses on Bangladesh’s Democracy Situation in Meeting with Yunus
PM Modi Meets Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor at BIMSTEC Summit
No one wins in a trade war — European Union
Canada Imposes 25% Tariff on U.S. Vehicles in Response to Trump’s Trade Policy
New Innovation: Bulldozer Politics in Bangladesh
More News

Two Saudi Companies Strike Deal with Aim to Lead Global Cinema

Saudi Arabia’s Neom Media Hub and Hakawati Entertainment have signed a deal aimed at strengthening their leadership in the global film industry. Through this collaboration, they plan to produce a total of nine films. Additionally, the partnership will create a new production service to assist in filmmaking, which will be supported by major Hollywood directors […]

Martinez Reveals When He Plans to Retire

Emiliano Martinez, who played a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory, has announced that he will retire from international football once he wins another World Cup with his country. The goalkeeper, who was also named the best goalkeeper of the tournament, stated that his decision to retire depends on the team’s success. In […]

Trump Organisation Expands Investments in Vietnam Amid Trade Tensions

March 28, 2025 – The Trump Organisation, in collaboration with its Vietnamese partner, is advancing plans for multi-billion-dollar investments in golf courses, hotels, and real estate projects across Vietnam. These developments come as the Southeast Asian nation faces potential U.S. tariffs due to its significant trade surplus with Washington. The first project, valued at $1.5 […]

UNESCO Declares International Mother Language Day in 1999, Originating from Bangladesh

In 1948, the Government of Pakistan declared Urdu as the sole national language of Pakistan, despite the majority of its population, mainly from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), speaking Bengali or Bangla. This decision sparked protests in East Pakistan, where the people demanded Bangla be recognized as a national language alongside Urdu. The first official demand […]

Former OpenAI Whistleblower Found Dead in San Francisco Apartment

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. Authorities have ruled the 26-year-old’s death a suicide, with police stating there is “currently no evidence of foul play.” Balaji’s passing comes as lawsuits against OpenAI, a major player in artificial intelligence, continue to mount, with […]

US Sanctions Against Bangladeshi Five Organizations and Six Individuals

The United States has imposed sanctions on five organizations and six individuals from Bangladesh, citing allegations of extrajudicial killings and involvement in terrorism. On December 27, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced these sanctions, which include economic and trade restrictions. The organizations targeted are Bangladesh-based groups linked to […]

Trump’s Tariff Hike on Imports Will Increase Costs for Americans, Says H&M CEO

H&M CEO Daniel Ervér has remarked that American consumers will face increased expenses due to President Donald Trump’s decision to raise import tariffs. In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Ervér stated, “The new trade barriers are forcing us to make changes to our supply chain.” Currently, H&M’s primary production hub is in China, where […]

Arsenal lose points at Brighton

Mikel Arteta’s team lost the chance to reduce the gap with Liverpool to three points in the league table. Arsenal could not be very effective in the attack. After going ahead in the beginning, the gap could not hold. Mikel Arteta’s side lost the chance to reduce the gap with Liverpool to three points in […]

U.S. Army Soldier Indicted for Selling Stolen Confidential Phone Records

DETROIT – Federal authorities unsealed an indictment on Monday accusing U.S. Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius of selling and attempting to sell stolen confidential phone records. Wagenius was arrested on December 20 and charged in the Western District of Texas with two counts of unlawful transfer of confidential phone records information. Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, spokesperson […]

ICC banned US National cricket league

The United States’ national cricket league has been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC). From now on, the country’s cricket board will no longer be allowed to organize T20 and T10 leagues. This development comes shortly after Jay Shah, the secretary of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), assumed the role of ICC Chairman on […]