Select Language:
Nearly 300 individuals have lost their lives in political violence in Bangladesh over the past year since student-led protests overthrew the authoritarian former leader Sheikh Hasina, according to the country’s primary human rights organization.
A report from Odhikar, based in Dhaka, indicates that at least 281 people have been killed in incidents involving political parties from August 2024—when Hasina’s government ended and she fled to India—through September 2025.
In addition, the report tallied 40 victims of extrajudicial killings suspected of crimes, and 153 people who were lynched during this period.
Odhikar’s director, ASM Nasiruddin Elan, noted that human rights conditions have somewhat improved since Hasina’s fall, but accountability among law enforcement remains lacking.
“While we haven’t seen the frequent extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances that characterized Hasina’s era, issues like deaths in custody, bribery, and victim harassment continue,” Elan told AFP.
He added that innocent individuals often become targets for atrocities due to their alleged connections with the now-banned Awami League, Sheikh Hasina’s political party.
During her 15-year rule, widespread human rights abuses, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings of political opponents, were common.
The report also mentions a notable frequency of mob attacks, mainly driven by ineffective policing.
“It’s been reported that police have been manipulated for partisan interests and have been given impunity, leading to killings and torture of opposition activists,” the organization said.
It further stated that police forces have become largely dysfunctional and demoralized since Hasina’s departure.
So far, Bangladesh’s interim government and political parties have not issued responses to Odhikar’s findings.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
