Bangladesh’s security forces have intensified a sweeping crackdown on supporters of the banned Awami League (AL) ahead of the party’s planned November 13 “lockdown” protest in Dhaka, arresting dozens in fresh overnight raids and fueling international concern over the state of human rights and political freedom under the unelected interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
According to data from police headquarters released in September and published by Prothom Alo on September 27, at least 44,472 people accused of links to the Awami League have been arrested across Bangladesh since the Yunus-led interim administration took office in August 2024.
As the crackdown has intensified nationwide, observers believe the actual number has surpassed 50,000, although no official update has been made public.
The figure represents one of the largest waves of mass arrests in Bangladesh’s history. Analysts say the detentions form part of a broader campaign to dismantle the Awami League’s organizational network, as the interim regime invokes newly amended security laws to suppress a grassroots party which continues to command widespread popular support.
Coordinated Raids Target Grassroots Leadership
The latest operation in Dhaka district, carried out through coordinated raids by multiple police and detective branches, resulted in 31 arrests on Thursday night alone. Among those detained are local leaders from Savar, Ashulia, Keraniganj, Dhamrai, Nawabganj, and Dohar, including several office-bearers of the AL’s front organizations such as the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Jubo League, Sramik League, and Swechchhasebak League.
Police confirmed that Rabbi Sardar (25), assistant secretary of the Sheikh Russell National Children & Youth Council’s Narayanganj Sadar unit, was arrested in Keraniganj for leading processions supporting the AL and maintaining “links” with banned organizations. His mobile phone allegedly contained communications with Jubo League and BCL activists in Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj.
Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Anisuzzaman said that the arrested were either participating in processions or “preparing for subversive acts,” warning that “any attempt to create chaos or sabotage will be dealt with stern measures.”
Widening Crackdown Nationwide
The operation in Dhaka comes amid parallel raids elsewhere in the country. In Cumilla, police reported the detention of 44 people linked to the banned Chhatra League for holding a flash procession after Friday prayers along the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. Among those arrested were Jubo League and Sramik League leaders, with police claiming that the gathering was a “cover for planned sabotage.”
In Dhaka Metropolitan areas, six more activists from the Jubo League, Awami Matsyajibi League, and the (now-banned) Chhatra League were detained from Tejgaon, Khilgaon, Agargaon, Bashundhara, Demra, and Lalbagh. The arrests follow a string of raids over the past weeks that have sought to neutralize the AL’s attempt to re-emerge through small, decentralized rallies and “flash” gatherings across urban centres.
Pattern of Repression
Since taking power in August 2024, the Yunus administration—backed by sections of the military and Islamist groups—has faced mounting criticism for what rights groups describe as a campaign of political repression targeting secular and progressive forces.
According to the rights organisation Odhikar, at least 40 extrajudicial killings have been documented in the 14 months since the interim government assumed office. Of those victims, 19 were shot, 14 died from torture and 7 were beaten to death while in custody. A BBC Bangla investigation on December 31 reported that the victims included AL supporters and ordinary citizens suspected of loyalty to the former ruling party.
“The situation amounts to a de facto suspension of the rule of law,” said a Dhaka-based rights advocate who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. “The numbers tell a story of systematic political purging.”
Echoes of Authoritarian Eras
Observers note that Bangladesh has seen crackdowns before, but never one of this scale targeting a single political current. The Awami League—founded by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, architect of Bangladesh’s independence—has been at the heart of the country’s democratic and secular identity for over five decades. Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, the party oversaw record economic growth, poverty reduction and social inclusion until its removal in 2024.
In contrast, the current wave of repression evokes memories of the military period following 1975, when pro-liberation forces were systematically suppressed. Analysts argue that the pattern of banning political activity, raiding homes and detaining grassroots leaders marks a return to rule by fear.
A Climate of Fear and Silence
Eyewitness accounts from Keraniganj, Savar and Ashulia describe late-night searches and arbitrary detentions of young activists. Families say they are often refused information about the whereabouts of their relatives for days. Many of those arrested are being held under vague charges of “sabotage” or “links with banned organizations.”
Rights monitors warn that this practice has become a tool of political control. By targeting lower-level organisers and young cadres, the interim government is systematically crippling the AL’s grassroots capacity to mobilise.
The fear of reprisal has also spread beyond political activists. Journalists, teachers and civil servants suspected of sympathy with the Awami League report harassment, dismissals and arbitrary suspensions.
Calls for Accountability
Despite its rhetoric of reform, the Yunus administration has yet to hold any security or law-enforcement official accountable for extrajudicial killings or torture deaths. International human-rights groups and foreign missions have expressed concern but so far have not initiated formal investigations or sanctions.
Legal experts say the scale of detentions and reports of custodial violence could bring Bangladesh under international scrutiny for violations of humanitarian or human-rights norms. “The pattern of mass arrests and targeted killings suggests a systematic policy of political cleansing,” said one former High Court judge.
Outlook
With the November 13 “lockdown” programme approaching, the streets of Dhaka are likely to see further confrontation. AL organisers say they remain committed to peaceful mobilisation for the restoration of democracy, while authorities continue to tighten security and signal more raids.
For many Bangladeshis the stakes go beyond party politics. The country stands at a crossroads between its hard-won secular democratic legacy and a slide back into fear, repression and authoritarian control.
