Political Violence Claims 328 Lives Under Interim Government

At least 328 people have lost their lives in political violence in Bangladesh from August 9, 2024, to December 31, 2025, according to a report released Wednesday by human rights organization Odhikar. The report, compiled using data from human rights defenders affiliated with Odhikar and verified media sources, shows that 238 people were killed and 6,704 injured in such violence in 2025 alone.

The interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, assumed office on August 8, 2024, three days after the ouster of the Awami League regime amid a mass uprising in July. Despite deploying joint forces to restore law and order, the report states that no notable improvement was observed in the security situation. Allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings by law enforcement agencies have also emerged.

Between August and December 2024, a total of 90 people were killed in political violence, including four during a brief period when no government was in place. The report further highlights that in 2025, political killings occurred in nearly every month, with the highest toll recorded in March at 44 deaths.

Extrajudicial killings remain a serious concern. From August 2024 to December 2025, 45 people were killed extrajudicially under the interim government, with 20 shot, 18 tortured, and seven beaten to death in custody. In addition, 102 people died in jail custody in 2025, raising the total to 122 deaths during the interim government period.

The report also notes continued border-related violence, citing 32 Bangladeshis killed by India’s Border Security Force in 2025, bringing the total to 42 since the interim government took office. Meanwhile, 2,425 people were forcibly pushed into Bangladesh by India through various border points since May 2025.

Mob violence has surged during the period as well. At least 181 people were beaten to death between August 2024 and December 2025, including 125 lynchings in 2025 alone.

Odhikar’s findings paint a grim picture of persistent political unrest, lawlessness, and human rights violations, raising questions about the interim government’s capacity to restore stability and protect citizens.