⁨Human Chain and Protest Rally by Expatriate Bangladeshis in Front of IAEA and UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna

A human chain and protest rally were held in front of the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Vienna on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 1:00 PM local time. The demonstration was organized to demand the withdrawal of a biased report by the United Nations Human Rights Commission regarding human rights violations in Bangladesh. Protesters also condemned the alleged oppression, killings, looting, arson attacks, and false cases against millions of Awami League leaders and activists, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by the so-called illegal Yunus government in Bangladesh.

Speakers at the event included the President of the All-European Awami League, expatriate human rights activist, writer, and journalist M. Nazrul Islam; President of Austria Awami League Khandaker Hafizur Rahman Nasim; General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Shyamal; President of Austria Bangabandhu Parishad Robin Mohammad Ali; Austria Awami League Vice President Ruhi Das Saha; Joint General Secretary Shah Kamal; Organizational Secretary Nayon Hossain; Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Harun Or Rashid Arif; and expatriates Monire Azam Mukul, Nusrat Sultana Misti, Farida Islam, Jarin Zakaria, and Jeffrey Islam, among others.

During the demonstration, M. Nazrul Islam criticized the recent statement made by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk during an interview on BBC’s HARDtalk. He claimed that Türk admitted to warning the Bangladesh Army in July-August of the previous year that any crackdown on protests could lead to the suspension of their participation in UN peacekeeping missions. Islam questioned the legitimacy of Türk’s statement, accusing him of committing crimes against humanity by influencing internal affairs in Bangladesh.

Islam further alleged that Türk’s involvement was linked to the widespread looting, killings of Awami League leaders and police officers, and other crimes that occurred during that period. He called on the United Nations to take action against Türk, stating that he had lost the right to work for such an organization. Islam accused Türk of directly interfering in Bangladesh’s internal security matters and aiding criminal elements, demanding his immediate accountability.

Following the protest, a memorandum was submitted to UN Secretary-General António Guterres through the IAEA Director General. The memorandum alleged that the biased UN Human Rights report was dictated by the “illegal and murderous Yunus government” and demanded its immediate withdrawal. An IAEA official received the protest letter on behalf of the UN.

The memorandum also included evidence of alleged crimes committed by the Yunus-led government, including the persecution and killing of Awami League leaders and activists, minorities, and the looting and occupation of their homes and businesses.