Momen Seeks UN Action Over 'Persecution and Rule of Law Breakdown' in Bangladesh
Former Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who also served as Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the United Nations, has appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene in what he described as Bangladesh's "deteriorating human rights, political, and humanitarian situation" since April 2025. Momen cited increasing repression, extrajudicial actions, and a disregard for democratic and humanitarian principles in his letter.
Bodies Rot in the Streets of Sudan — There’s No One Left to Bury Them
In the northern Darfur region of Sudan’s capital of El Fasher, a horrifying humanitarian disaster has unfolded as hundreds of bodies lie in the streets with no one to bury them. The city was seized last week by the semi-military force Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Their assault has killed at least 1,500 people, with more than 460 deaths alone reported in a single hospital.
Extreme Nationalism Breeds Human Rights Violations
The shifting global geo-strategic landscape is reshaping interactions among nations and communities, creating what analysts describe as an osmotic effect—a gradual but powerful blending of tensions, fears, and mistrust between peoples of different origins. Sociologists warn that this changing environment is driving societies toward xenophobia, an intense fear or dislike of outsiders, often rooted in concerns about losing national, ethnic, or cultural identity.
Former Bangladesh Foreign Minister Urges UN to Investigate OHCHR’s 2024 Protest Report
Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, has written to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report on Bangladesh’s 2024 protest-related violence.
The UN at 80: Can a Fractured World Restore Its Fading Balance?
October 24 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations — the day in 1945 when 51 countries ratified its Charter. Eight decades later, the UN still carries a unique legitimacy in global affairs. It remains the only forum where all internationally recognized states meet to address issues from war and peace to nuclear non-proliferation, climate change, and global health. Yet in an increasingly turbulent world, the organization faces the same challenge it was created to solve: how to prevent chaos from overwhelming the international system.
A Police Contingent Returning Home from Peacekeeping Mission
A contingent of Bangladesh Police deployed in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is returning home. Their return is scheduled to be completed by October 20. Sources say the decision was made due to budget constraints in the UN peacekeeping mission.
Volker Turk urges interim government not to repeat human rights violations and repression
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has strongly urged the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure that human rights violations and repression do not recur in the country. He also described the initiation of judicial processes against those accused of enforced disappearances and torture during the previous government as an important step towards accountability. This call was made in a statement on Wednesday.
Rohingya, Sri Lanka, Syria: Australia’s Support for Global Justice Under Scrutiny
In late September, renewed global attention was drawn to the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar during a United Nations General Assembly High-level Conference. Julie Bishop, appointed as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, emphasized that achieving accountability for crimes committed against the Rohingya is “critical for reconciliation.” Marking eight years since the violent attacks—now alleged to constitute genocide in cases before both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC)—Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reaffirmed the nation's support for justice and accountability efforts.
UN to Cut Global Peacekeeping Forces by 25% Due to Funding Shortfall
Senior U.N. officials confirmed Wednesday that the United Nations will reduce peacekeeper deployments by about 25% across nine missions worldwide in the coming months, citing severe financial constraints and uncertainty over future U.S. funding.
International Rights Groups Condemn Surge in Violence Against Indigenous Peoples in CHT
Three leading human rights organizations—FIAN International, the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHT Commission), the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), and Minority Rights Group International (MRG)—have issued a forceful condemnation of recent lethal attacks targeting the Indigenous peoples of the the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). According to their joint press release, the violence, perpetrated by state security forces and Bengali settlers, represents a continuing pattern of systemic oppression, including the use of sexual violence as an instrument of terror and control.