UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Dr. Alice Jill Edwards has called for justice for the victims of the July massacre and comprehensive institutional reform in Bangladesh. During her visit to Dhaka, she discussed with Amar Desh the need to end custodial torture, restructure law enforcement, and ensure compensation for victims in line with international standards. Edwards emphasized that any reform of the Rapid Action Battalion must go beyond rebranding and include fundamental changes in its operations and mindset.

She welcomed the government’s plan to form a parliamentary human rights commission and urged that human rights be treated as a universal issue rather than a political one. Edwards also highlighted the importance of creating a safe and dignified process for victims to report abuses and called for a truth-telling and reconciliation mechanism. She reminded Bangladesh of its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture, noting the interim government’s recent withdrawal of reservations from Article 14.

Edwards stressed that accountability and strong human rights culture are essential for rebuilding public trust and institutional stability in Bangladesh.