By Dastagir Jahangir TheVoice.News Staff
Dhaka, June 21, 2025
A disturbing surge in political violence has gripped Bangladesh since the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024. According to a recent report by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), at least 123 leaders and supporters of the Awami League (AL) have been killed in targeted attacks, with many brutally hacked to death or dying in custody.
The RRAG, an independent watchdog, published its findings on June 6, 2025, stating that the killings took place between August 5, 2024, and April 30, 2025. Among the victims, 41 were reportedly hacked to death, while 21 died under suspicious circumstances in custody—raising serious concerns over extrajudicial actions and politically motivated repression under the current interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
These figures contrast with even higher claims made by the Awami League itself. In a December 2024 statement quoted by The Economic Times, the party alleged that nearly 394 of its grassroots leaders and activists had been killed since July 2024, although these numbers have not been independently verified.
In addition, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights acknowledged reports of widespread violence, including custodial deaths and arbitrary detentions, targeting Awami League loyalists. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have echoed these concerns, accusing the interim government of failing to uphold democratic rights and selectively weaponizing law enforcement agencies.
The ongoing violence has fueled fears of a deepening political crisis in Bangladesh. While the interim government insists it is restoring stability and preparing for democratic transition, critics say it is using state power to dismantle opposition forces and entrench itself further.
International observers, including the United States and the European Union, have called for transparency, accountability, and protection of all political actors—regardless of affiliation.
The question now facing Bangladesh is not just whether it will return to democracy, but at what human cost.
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Tags: Bangladesh, Awami League, Political Violence, Human Rights, RRAG, Sheikh Hasina, Muhammad Yunus, Interim Government, Extrajudicial Killings, South Asia Politics
