Dhaka, Dec 24 (NationPress) The Awami League in Bangladesh voiced serious concerns on Wednesday, claiming that the number of fatalities in prisons and police custody has escalated significantly under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. This alarming trend has transformed detention into a source of fear rather than a protective measure.

Pointing out a troubling trend, the party asserted that individuals are being taken into custody alive only to be returned dead, with the official narratives providing scant clarification and even less accountability. What was anticipated to be a phase of reform has, according to them, revealed a perilous collapse in the state's obligation to safeguard those within its care.

The Awami League emphasized that this issue transcends a mere human rights debate; it is a clear pattern of fatalities, particularly affecting their party members and leaders.

“Numerous individuals have been detained in politically motivated cases, held for prolonged durations, and denied essential medical treatment. Their deaths are routinely categorized as illnesses or suicides, highlighting that custody has become a domain where accountability seemingly ceases. This raises critical political responsibilities. The Yunus administration came to power promising reform, restraint, and a break from prior abuses, yet this promise has proven to be illusory,” stated the Awami League.

The party criticized Yunus for not only failing to implement reforms but also for misleading the populace by offering false assurances while allowing violence to persist under a new guise.

“His administration has opted for silence instead of accountability, fostering an atmosphere where abuse can occur without repercussions. By failing to take action, initiate investigations, or promote reforms, Yunus has effectively normalized custodial deaths. What once sparked outrage is now treated as a commonplace occurrence. In today's Bangladesh, an arrest no longer signifies legal protection; it indicates exposure to a state that has forsaken its duty to ensure the safety of detainees,” they added.

The Awami League cited statistics from the past year, revealing that at least 119 individuals have died while in prison custody, with an additional 21 fatalities occurring in police custody under Yunus's leadership.

During the same timeframe, they reported that 26 people were killed in extrajudicial actions, and 106 died due to political violence, suggesting a significant failure in how Bangladeshi authorities manage detention and public order.

Stressing that these fatalities can no longer be brushed off as administrative errors or isolated incidents, the Awami League remarked, “They represent political choices. The Yunus government, by not intervening, investigating, or reforming, has become complicit through its inaction.”