Report by Hasan Hamid, Researcher and Human Rights Activist – December 2024

The human rights situation in Bangladesh has been alarming for a prolonged time. In July 2024, there was a student uprising that was at the start harshly cracked down resulting in at least 852 deaths. According to some reports These deaths were reported during the two phases of the protests related to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, specifically from July 18-20 and August 4-7. However, according to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), the total number of fatalities in the uprising stands at 908. Of these, 759 individuals have been identified, while 149 remain unconfirmed. The number of injuries is estimated to be several thousand.

The reported cases of children being shot in their own homes during the July unrest particularly demonstrate the graveness of the situation. During this period, 128 children under the age of 18 were reported to have been killed, with 32 of those fatalities occurring early in the uprising.

Following the students’ revolt, the Prime Minister resigned on August 5. The next day, Mayer Dak, an organization dedicated to protecting human rights in Bangladesh, held a protest in front of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DGFI) office in Dhaka Cantonment, protesting the missing of persons. Mayer Dak was formed by families of individuals who have been missing over the past 15 years during Sheikh Hasina’s time in power. This organization has played a crucial role in raising awareness about the plight of missing persons, demonstrating the prior existence of human rights issues in Bangladesh.

After the fall of the Awami League government, reports of torture and forced resignations have surfaced nationwide. For instance, Abdullah Al Masud, a former leader of the Rajshahi University Chhatra League, was beaten to death on September 7. Another former Chhatra League leader suffered multiple beatings by students at Jahangirnagar University, compounding the dire atmosphere of mob justice gripping the country. On September 18, 2024, a man named Tofajjalwas assaulted at Dhaka University on suspicion of theft and later died in the hospital due to critical injuries. Subsequently, police announced that no evidence of theft had been found.

Post the July uprising, there has been a worrying increase in mass killings and prosecutions of various individuals. Journalists, particularly, have been targeted. The issuance of press accreditation cards has been significantly reduced, and reports of violence against women are on the rise. According to Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), in Octoberalone, a total of 117 women were victims of violence, including 55 who were raped 27 of whom being under 18years.

Although there have been no reported crossfires or encounters during the new government’s tenure, there have been allegations concerning deaths resulting from operations by joint forces. Recently, the human rights organization MSF reported that Jubo Dal leader Atiq Hasan Sardar (39) and Hazrat Ali (27), a Dubai resident, died while receiving treatment in the hospital.

These issues highlight the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh, and the ongoing struggles faced by citizens during this tumultuous period.