Bangladesh Sees 300 Deaths in Political Clashes After Leadership Change, Says Rights Group
A report by the Dhaka-based rights organisation Odhikar indicates that nearly 300 people have been killed in political violence in Bangladesh since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to the August 2024 to September 2025 period, at least 281 individuals lost their lives in clashes involving political parties. On top of that, the report lists 40 victims of extrajudicial killings and another 153 people killed by lynching.
While Odhikar notes some improvement in human rights adherence since the previous government’s departure, the organisation says that enforcement agencies remain largely unaccountable. “Although incidents of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances have reportedly declined compared to past years, concerns such as deaths in custody, bribery, and harassment of victims continue to persist,” said the organisation’s director.
The report further alleged that “innocent people fall prey to atrocities” due to alleged links with the now-banned Awami League party.
Under Hasina’s 15-year rule, widespread human rights abuses were documented, including mass detention and extrajudicial killings of political opponents.
In the year since Hasina’s departure, Odhikar also reports many people were victims of extortion by political parties across the spectrum — from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to the Jamaat‑e‑Islami and student movements.
Mob attacks were also frequent during this time, which the report attributed to weak policing and the use of law enforcement to serve party interests.
The interim government and major political parties have not yet publicly responded to Odhikar’s findings.
Source: Arab News
