Under Siege: Bangladesh’s interim government accused of escalating political violence and extrajudicial killings

CHT Desk:

In a shocking new report, Bangladesh-based human rights organization Odhikar reveals a disturbing rise in extrajudicial killings, political violence, and state repression under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, which assumed power on August 8.

Covering the period from August 9 to September 30, the report documents the harrowing deaths of at least eight individuals, allegedly at the hands of law enforcement and military forces.

These include deaths from police torture, abuse by the Department of Narcotics Control, and killings attributed to joint military-police forces. The report also reveals three victims were fatally shot by joint forces during this period.

The Odhikar findings paint a grim picture of state-sanctioned violence, with political unrest fueling a deadly climate.

Between August 9 and September 30, political violence claimed 52 lives, while more than 1,300 people sustained injuries as political tensions escalated across the country.

This violent surge is emblematic of the regime’s crackdown on dissent, leaving a trail of victims in its wake.

The report also draws attention to a sharp increase in mob violence.

Between July and September, 67 people were lynched, with 31 of those killings occurring between August 9 and September 30.

While no cases of enforced disappearances were recorded during the latter period, the ongoing violence and absence of accountability underscore the alarming erosion of justice in the country.

In a further blow to civil liberties, Odhikar highlights severe restrictions on press freedom.

Four journalists were injured, two assaulted, and three faced threats during the August-September period.

The report also notes that legal cases were filed against three journalists while they were simply carrying out their professional duties — a clear indication of the growing pressure on independent media in Bangladesh.

Perhaps most troubling, the report also revisits the deadly aftermath of the student-led protests against discrimination, which rocked the country from July 1 to August 5.

These protests, which initially sought to challenge systemic discrimination, quickly turned violent, resulting in 1,581 fatalities and over 18,000 injuries.

These figures, compiled by the Students Movement Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, underline the deadly consequences of seeking justice in an increasingly repressive state.

Odhikar’s report provides a sobering reminder of the deepening human rights crisis in Bangladesh.

As extrajudicial killings, political violence, and attacks on journalists continue to rise, the world must take note of the unfolding crisis — one where violence and impunity seem to be the order of the day.