The United Nations human rights office on Wednesday estimated that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in Bangladesh over three weeks last summer in a crackdown on student-led protests against the now-ousted former prime minister.

As many as 1,400 people were killed in former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s violent response to a student-led revolt, according to a U.N. inquiry.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government was behind possible “crimes against humanity” as it strived to hold on to power last year, says the United Nations, warning the abuses could amount to “crimes against humanity”.

There are grounds to believe extrajudicial killings took place with the ‘knowledge and direction’ of the leadership, said the United Nations human rights body.

Bangladesh's former government was behind systematic attacks and killings of protesters as it tried to hold onto power last year, the UN said Wednesday, warning the abuses could amount to "crimes against humanity".