Is There An Alarming Increase in Human Rights Violations Under Yunus in Bangladesh?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Dhaka, Dec 10 (NationPress) A staggering 156 individuals have lost their lives and 242 more have been injured due to 276 incidents of mob violence throughout Bangladesh as of November this year—averaging approximately 14 fatalities monthly, as highlighted in a report by the Dhaka-based Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).
According to the findings, at least 1,909 women and girls have endured sexual violence, including 789 rapes, with over half of the victims being under 18 years old.
The HRSS's 'Human Rights Observation Report 2025', released on Tuesday, evaluates the current state of law and order and human rights from January to November this year, utilizing data from 15 national newspapers along with the organization's own records, as reported by Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star.
The report indicates that since the Yunus-led interim government took office in August 2024, the situation regarding human rights and law enforcement has not improved but remains profoundly concerning.
It emphasizes a surge in political violence, mob killings, sexual assaults against women, attacks on shrines, and violence against journalists within Bangladesh.
During this timeframe, at least 31 individuals died during confrontations with law enforcement or due to custodial torture, while another 80 inmates died in prisons nationwide.
There were 852 incidents of political violence, including 474 resulting from internal disputes within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliates, leading to 80 deaths and 4,577 injuries.
Additionally, 55 clashes between the BNP and Jamaat resulted in two fatalities and 503 injuries.
The report documents 293 attacks targeting journalists, resulting in two deaths, 256 injuries, and 14 arrests. It also mentioned that a female journalist was gang-raped in Dhaka while covering news earlier in March. Furthermore, 105 journalists faced legal charges in 31 cases, including five under the Cyber Security Act 2023, leading to one arrest.
The report also details 24 attacks on minority communities, resulting in 15 injuries and the destruction of five temples, 37 idols, and 38 homes across Bangladesh. Additionally, over 50 shrines were similarly attacked or vandalized.
Bangladesh continues to face significant challenges related to widespread human rights violations, assaults on minority communities, and a deteriorating law and order situation under the Yunus-led interim government, raising serious global concerns.