According to the U.N. fact-finding mission's report, which was disclosed on Wednesday, the response to the protests contributed to severe human rights violations. U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk described the findings as indicative of widespread state violence, stating that the implicated acts could amount to international crimes. “The testimonies and evidence we gathered paint a disturbing picture of rampant state violence and targeted killings that are some of the most serious violations of human rights,” Türk emphasized in a statement to reporters.

The crackdown, noted for its brutality, coincided with the end of Hasina's lengthy governance. Throughout the unrest, reports indicated that security forces employed measures reminiscent of violent repression against unarmed civilians, including minors. The U.N. report specifically highlights instances of torture, especially against children, as well as accounts of sexual violence inflicted upon women.

In the wake of the protests, which ultimately led to Hasina stepping down, the former leader sought refuge in India in August, as protestors converged on her residence. Current Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has provided her with asylum, further complicating the interim government's efforts to restore democratic processes in Bangladesh. This ongoing political turmoil, amid human rights accusations, poses challenges to the rebuilding of a stable government in the region.