In September 2024, three young leaders from Bangladesh made history by participating in the 57th United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) session held in Geneva to bring forward the voices of the marginalized and shed light on the ongoing challenges that plague the nation. Invited by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA), the leaders included—Meghmallar Bose, current President of the Bangladesh Students’ Union DU unit, Anika Tahsina, and Nusrat Tabassum, coordinators of the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement.
Alongside these students, other notable panelists included Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, and Yasasmin Kaviratne, a policy leader fellow at the European University Institute and regional campaigner for Amnesty International. Together, they deep-dived into crucial discussions on the recent July Movement, atrocities and injustices by the previous regime, and Bangladesh’s current challenges and reforms that are essential for the country’s recovery.
A Unified Representation of Bangladesh’s Struggles
For the student leaders, their participation in the 57th HRC was more than a moment of achievement—there was a sense of responsibility weighing on them. They did not just feel the need to voice their opinions but also to represent those who had suffered and sacrificed for the country’s future. As Anika Tahsina said,
“For me, it felt like I was sitting on the bodies of many named and nameless martyrs who were looking up to me to speak on their behalf.”
Coming from different academic disciplines and well-versed in different political niches, the three leaders worked closely to ensure that their statements were aligned, avoiding repetition while presenting the full scope of Bangladesh’s issues. Anika, aligned with her academic discipline of Law, focused on legal and judicial aspects. Nusrat, currently studying political science, spoke on social and political issues, and Meghmallar, represented the challenges faced by minority citizens.
Along with ensuring diversity and adept knowledge in every relevant aspect, they also had a clear strategy: to avoid sounding as if they were pleading for help and instead to present Bangladesh’s struggles with dignity. Meghmallar emphasized this approach, noting,
“We made sure we were simply acknowledging the past atrocities and highlighting the gravity of the situation, not feeding into the third-world country stereotype international platforms have of us.”
The Journey Leading to Global Representation
The three leaders’ journey to the UN was deeply rooted in their involvement in the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement, which reached a tipping point during the July Uprising. Initially, the protests focused on the unfair quota system, but it soon evolved into a nationwide movement after the Dhaka University attack by members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) followed by the police, violating their right to peacefully protest. This attack only further highlighted the wrongful, ruthless and fascist regime we were living under that couldn’t be reformed rather had to be uprooted completely to be rebuilt properly.
While the three of them had always been vocal about the unjust systems in place in the nation, this uprising galvanized their commitment to advocate for systemic change. As Nusrat explained,
“When we saw a mass uprising and awareness spreading all over the country, we understood this awareness has to be led in the proper way so that the root cause of the issue can be resolved—that is, the unruly Awami regime that has been running its atrocities all over the country consistently in the last 16 years.”
However, their activism came with significant personal risks. They lived under the constant fear of unlawful arrest and retaliation from the government and its allies. Nusrat was held hostage by the Detective Branch (DB) of the police, and Anika and Meghmallar had to work under the radar as a precaution to avoid being targeted. They also faced challenges from covert BCL members who sought to disrupt their movement. Yet, despite these obstacles, they remained dedicated to their cause, seeing it as a necessary step for the future of Bangladesh.
Engagement with International Stakeholders at the HRC
At the UN Human Rights Council, the student leaders presented Bangladesh’s issues with a clear focus on the atrocities of the July Massacre and the injustices that had plagued the nation over the past 16 years. The two speakers, Anika and Nusrat, spoke as a part of the panel to highlight the essential topics of their agenda. Anika addressed legal and judicial concerns, emphasizing the need for constitutional reforms, the Cyber Security Act, and updates on engaging with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Nusrat raised concer
ns about systemic issues within দুদক (the Anti-Corruption Commission) and other economic and social issues, while Meghmallar answered major queries from the diplomats and other stakeholders and emphasized the plight of minority groups in Bangladesh.
Their presentations covered structural reforms needed to address the deep-seated problems in the country, including the 1974 Special Powers Act, the misuse of the Group FIR system that led to unlawful arrests, and the urgent need for police reform.
During the panel discussions, the leaders were met with curiosity rather than confrontation. The international stakeholders, including diplomats and representatives from various NGOs, did not offer counterarguments but instead asked questions to gauge the authenticity of the students’ accounts. The focus was on understanding whether the issues the students raised aligned with the narratives that international organizations had previously encountered. As Anika reflected, “I think we were able to pass on a meaningful message by effectively communicating the gravity of the past and present of our country during these informal interactions where the listeners were more eager to listen with ease. That too was helpful, I believe.”
In addition to the formal discussions, the student leaders engaged in casual conversations with diplomats, NGOs, and other activists. These informal interactions allowed them to further convey the seriousness of Bangladesh’s situation and to build relationships with potential allies in their ongoing fight for reform.
Challenges in Advocating for Bangladesh on the Global Stage
One of the most significant challenges the student leaders faced was communicating the urgency of Bangladesh’s problems to an international audience unfamiliar with the country’s socio-political context. Meghmallar explained that while legal and judicial issues were relatively straightforward to present, “explaining the social context of all these incidents was the hard part.” The leaders had to tailor their message carefully, ensuring that their audience understood the economic, social, and political backdrop against which the injustices occurred.
Throughout the event, the students learned valuable lessons about how international organizations like the UN operate. As Meghmallar noted, “For example, it is not very useful to discuss constitutional changes with an individual who works with civic space because that is not their field of influence.” The experience gave them a better understanding of how to engage with international bodies and navigate their bureaucratic structures.
For Nusrat, maintaining the image of Bangladesh was a constant priority. She explained, “The image of my country has always been of huge priority to me and so I never want to represent my country in a way that might tarnish its reputation.” This delicate balance—between highlighting the country’s struggles and ensuring its dignity—was a central challenge in their representation.
When asked if they had any regrets, the student leaders were united in their response: they had none. They felt that they had made the most of their first experience on such a platform, but they were also eager to apply the lessons they had learned to future initiatives and hoped to guide future youth representatives from Bangladesh, using their experience to help them navigate the complex international landscape.
The Impact of Their Representation
The student leaders’ representation at the 57th HRC was not just a personal milestone; it was a breakthrough for Bangladesh as a whole. For the first time in years, the country was represented by an authentic, politically unbiased group. Anika recounted the story of Adilur Rahman Khan, co-founder of Odhikar, who had been attacked by Awami League leaders during the 36th HRC session for speaking out against the government’s human rights abuses. In contrast, this recent representation opened new avenues for Bangladesh’s concerns to be heard.
Anika captured the significance of the moment: “Now that we have fulfilled the responsibility of representing our country on an international platform, we feel it has now become a commitment. A commitment to become the voice of the unheard. And I urge the international NGOs and local NGOs to step forward to assist us in this journey as well.”
Nusrat echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for more voices from different backgrounds to come forward. “We three or people of our demographic cannot be the only representatives of people of so many other backgrounds and socio-economic classes. Hopefully, this event will open more opportunities for us to hear from people of more underprivileged groups, who are often unheard from because everyone has a different story to tell.”
Looking Ahead: Outcomes and Future of Youth Activism
The student leaders understand that many of the reforms they called for will take time to implement. Anika mentioned that although structural changes were their main focus, there were already signs of progress, such as updates from the ICC and changes within the Law Commission. She also expressed the need for international resolutions to be imposed on Bangladesh, saying, “I am well aware of how it looks for a country to receive resolutions. Yet, given the current situation, I think it is imperative for resolutions to be imposed on Bangladesh.”
Meghmallar added that despite the absence of immediate visible changes, the impact of their advocacy was undeniable. “It is not a surprise that the general mass of the country is more or less in the same state now under the interim government as they were during the AL regime. The reforms we asked for were mostly structural and cannot be expected immediately. However, regardless of the apparent changes our representation brings, if there is one thing we are sure of, that would be the fact that our voices will now be hard to brush off, no matter the ruling party.”
To share a bit of how they want to proceed from here Nusrat emphasized the importance of maintaining the network they built during their time at the UN. “As we mentioned before, our trip to Geneva gave us a prominent insight into the mechanisms of the UN. We got to learn about the Fact-Finding team that is already active in the country. Our job is to maintain this network we have built from this platform.”
Sustainable Movements for Change
The leaders believe that the key to building sustainable movements is unity. They credit the overwhelming public support for the July Movement as a major factor in its success. Meghmallar explained, “It would be very dishonest of us if we claim to know any formula to make a movement sustainable. All three of us have been part of many movements before this that have not proved to be half as much as impactful as this one. But one thing we never stopped doing was showing up. So my formula would be to keep the work up no matter what.” They also stressed the need for rights-based activism that transcends political biases. Nusrat pointed out that there must be organizations that ensure accountability, unbiased to any political affiliation.
The leaders are hopeful that their representation at the UN will inspire others to take action, not just on a national level, but also on a provincial and rural level. Meghmallar added, “The organizations that existed up until 5th August at least used to be very politically homogeneous. Which brought certain biases and polarity in execution. Organizations should represent diverse ideologies but work together for the greater good, free from extreme ideological biases. But now there is the space to speak, we can expect more rights-based activism. We’ve already seen the rise of groups like the Nagorik Committee, and I believe we’ll see more of them in the future.”
Their message to the public is clear: protect the victory they’ve achieved and continue to fight for unity, accountability, and transparency.
The participation of Meghmallar Bose, Anika Tahsina, and Nusrat Tabassum at the 57th UN Human Rights Council was not just a milestone for them personally but a turning point for Bangladesh’s youth activism. Their advocacy highlighted the ongoing struggles of a nation recovering from years of corruption and injustice and the aftermath of war as well as opened the door for a new generation of activists to take the stage. As they continue their journey, these leaders remain committed to being the voices of the masses and the marginalized and fighting for the systemic change that Bangladesh so desperately needs. Their message of unity, accountability, and inclusion will undoubtedly inspire future generations to keep the momentum alive.