India, Feb. 12 -- Bangladesh's former Government led by ex-PM Sheikh Hasina and security and intelligence services, alongside violent elements associated with the Awami League party, systematically engaged in a range of serious human rights violations during last year's student-led protests, a report by the UN Human Rights Office has found.

Drawing on testimony of senior officials and other evidence, it also found an official policy to attack and violently repress anti-Government protesters and sympathisers, raising concerns as to crimes against humanity requiring urgent further criminal investigation.

Based on deaths reported by various credible sources, the report estimates that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed between 1 J...