133 Killed, 7,511 Injured in Political Violence in 2025: HRSS

Political and electoral violence, mob violence and lynching, attacks on journalists, border killings and abuse, extrajudicial killings, and violence against women and children in Bangladesh reached an alarming level in 2025, according to the human rights organization Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).

According to data published in the organization’s annual report on Thursday (January 1), a total of 133 people were killed and 7,511 injured in 914 incidents of violence across the country in 2025. These incidents were linked to political dominance, acts of revenge, clashes centered around rallies, disputes over committee formation, election-related violence, extortion, and land grabbing. Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Election, 54 incidents of electoral violence resulted in 3 deaths and 494 injuries.

HRSS reported that last year, 168 people were killed and 248 injured in 292 incidents of mob violence and lynching related to allegations of theft, robbery, mugging, assertion of dominance, and religious defamation.

The report stated that in 2025, a total of 539 journalists were killed, injured, or harassed in 318 incidents nationwide. Among them, 3 journalists were killed, 273 injured, 57 humiliated, 83 threatened, and 17 arrested. In addition, 107 journalists were accused in 34 cases.

It was further mentioned that under the Cyber Security Act 2023 and the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2025, 24 people were arrested and 54 were accused in 27 cases. At the same time, 512 people were injured and 36 arrested due to obstructions to 47 meetings and rallies, the imposition of Section 144, and related clashes.

Expressing concern over extrajudicial killings and deaths in police stations and prisons, the report said that 40 people were killed in operations conducted by law enforcement agencies. Another 10 people died while fleeing out of fear of the police or due to illness. In addition, 92 people (30 convicts and 62 undertrial prisoners) died in custody due to illness, suicide, and torture.

In 2025, a total of 2,047 women and girl children were subjected to violence. Among them, 828 were victims of rape, including 474 children. A total of 179 were victims of gang rape, and 28 women were killed after rape. As a result of these incidents, 10 women committed suicide. Additionally, 414 women were victims of sexual harassment, 35 women were killed due to dowry-related violence, and 383 women died as a result of domestic violence. A total of 1,371 children were victims of abuse, of whom 288 lost their lives.

Along the India–Bangladesh border, 30 people were killed by gunfire from the Border Security Force (BSF), 2 were beaten to death, 39 were injured, and 63 were arrested. In addition, 3,493 people were pushed in across the border, and 143 fishermen were taken away from the Bay of Bengal.

Along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border, 2 people were injured by gunfire from the Arakan Army, while 1 person was killed and 12 injured in landmine explosions. A total of 176 fishermen along with 21 trawlers were taken away. In incidents of worker abuse, 96 workers were killed and 1,021 injured. Workplace accidents resulted in the deaths of 168 workers.

HRSS Executive Director Ejazul Islam said that coordinated efforts at all levels of the state and society are essential to strengthen the rule of law and democracy in the country. He warned that if mob violence, custodial deaths, political tension, and interference with freedom of expression continue, the human rights situation will further deteriorate.

He called on the government to take accountable and responsible measures to control the situation and urged civil society, the media, and human rights organizations to play a more active role.