Author: Aisha Noor
January 30, 2025
![[Image source: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/a-violent-crackdown-has-put-bangladesh-at-a-crossroads/]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_505d9f433fb44b0ba7eb696dbab4086a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_33,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e28a6b_505d9f433fb44b0ba7eb696dbab4086a~mv2.png)
HRRC formally denounces the ongoing human rights abuses in Bangladesh. We urge the transitional government to initiate immediate security sector reforms which demand the cancellation of abusive legislation and progress toward legal detention systems while stopping unprovoked arrests. All citizens should receive equal respect from the government while law enforcement agencies must operate under transparent oversight for full accountability.
The downfall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government during August 2024 was followed by an unprecedented increase in human rights abuses throughout Bangladesh. Although committed to policy reforms, the government has witnessed disturbing trends of continuous arbitrary arrests and mass criminal complaints, along with extensive police violence. Fabricators of democracy have become targets of retribution because security forces direct their actions against former government collaborators alongside opposition figures and journalists. The number of people killed during the Monsoon Revolution exceeds 1,000, as extremist groups choose violence to stop all opposition.
Arbitrary detentions by the police consist of excessive mass complaints targeting unidentified people through vague charges to achieve intimidation and citizen arrests. Police employ excessive force repeatedly in situations where protesters, bystanders, and reporters face brutal enforcement practices. Together with arrests, the state also permits violent assaults on Hindu and other minority groups, but fails to provide them protection from attacks.
Enforced disappearances continue to be a persistent problem, with people being detained unlawfully before facing judicial proceedings, and while being subjected to torture. According to the National Commission on Enforced Disappearances, Hasina's government produced over 3,500 cases of enforced disappearances, yet the transitional government's law enforcement agencies persist with similar techniques despite promising reforms.
The interim government must speed up reform initiatives and demonstrate accountability to overcome decades of political loyalties that still poison the security sector and judicial system and law enforcement agencies.
HRRC formally denounces the ongoing human rights abuses. The recent surge of arbitrary detentions together with violent reprisals and attacks against dissent signals an open violation of the democratic and human rights values championed by the Monsoon Revolution. HRRC calls for unreserved responsibility action to pursue legal consequences against those who have abused human rights through security forces and political agents and public officials who let such violations happen.
In addition, HRRC urges the transitional government to initiate immediate security sector reforms which demand the cancellation of abusive legislation and progress toward legal detention systems while stopping unprovoked arrests. All citizens should receive equal respect from the government while law enforcement agencies must operate under transparent oversight for full accountability. We ask international organizations to assist Bangladesh's human rights reforms through technical resources and sustained human rights monitoring of Bangladeshi territory.
Glossary
Arbitrary Detentions: The act of detaining individuals without legal justification or formal charges, often to intimidate or silence dissent.
Arbitrary Arrests: The unlawful arrest of individuals without sufficient evidence or due process, often based on political reasons or suspicion.
Enforced Disappearances: The act of abducting individuals, often by government agents, who are then secretly detained without legal process, often subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
Excessive Force: The use of more physical force than necessary to control a situation, often resulting in harm or injury to civilians.
Human Rights: The basic rights and freedoms that all individuals are entitled to, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as outlined in various international agreements.
HRRC (Human Rights Research Center): An organization dedicated to researching and advocating for the protection of human rights globally.
Intimidation: The use of threats or violence to frighten or control others, often used by authorities to suppress dissent or criticism.
Interim Government: A temporary government set up during a period of political transition, often with the goal of overseeing reforms or holding elections.
Journalists: Individuals who report news, particularly on political, social, and human rights issues. They are often targeted in environments where freedom of expression is restricted.
Monsoon Revolution: A term used to describe the mass protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's autocratic government in August 2024, which involved violent clashes and loss of life.
Police Violence: The use of unlawful force by police officers to control or suppress protests or individuals, often resulting in injury or death.
Political Repression: The suppression or restriction of political rights and activities, often by a government that seeks to maintain control through force or manipulation.
Reprisal Violence: Violence carried out as a form of retaliation against individuals or groups, often for political reasons.
Security Sector Reform: The process of restructuring and improving the practices and accountability of security forces, including the military and police, to align with human rights standards.
Torture: The infliction of severe pain or suffering on an individual, often as a method of obtaining information or punishing political opposition.
Transparency: The practice of allowing public access to information about government actions and policies, ensuring accountability and preventing corruption.
UN (United Nations): An international organization established to promote peace, security, and cooperation between member states, with a focus on human rights and humanitarian issues.
Vague Charges: Legal accusations that are not clearly defined, which can be used to detain or charge individuals without clear evidence of a crime.
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