Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has accused authorities of carrying out mass arrests, house-to-house searches, torture, filing false cases and extrajudicial killings in Gopalganj and other parts of the country.
In a statement published on the Awami League’s website on Tuesday, Hasina called for an immediate halt to what she described as mass arrests and blanket searches and demanded that the rights and legal protections of ordinary citizens be upheld.
Hasina alleged that, amid growing public discontent, law enforcement agencies were conducting “block raids” and making mass arrests in Gopalganj and elsewhere. She also claimed that family members of those detained were being subjected to harassment and abuse.
She said law enforcement operations in Gopalganj had disrupted normal life and alleged that similar measures were being extended to other parts of the country.
The Awami League president also expressed concern over Bangladesh’s law-and-order situation, human rights, freedom of expression and political rights. She cited economic difficulties, rising prices, shortages of fuel and fertiliser, factory closures and rising unemployment as additional sources of concern.
Hasina called for an end to what she described as sweeping security operations, mass arrests, searches, torture, false cases and extrajudicial killings, and urged authorities to ensure citizens’ rights and access to legal protection.
She ended the statement with the slogan “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” and expressed deep concern about Bangladesh’s future.
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