The Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG) has released a damning report documenting at least 85 extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh since the installation of an unelected interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus in September 2024.
Spanning from September 8, 2024, to January 3, 2026, the victims include political activists, former elected officials, labourers, students, and freedom fighters, many with ties to the ousted Awami League party. The report accuses the regime of perpetuating a culture of impunity amid widespread media censorship, urging immediate independent investigations by international bodies.
Background: From Protests to Power Vacuum
Bangladesh’s political landscape shifted dramatically in August 2024 when mass student-led protests forced the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government. Dr. Yunus, renowned for his microfinance work with Grameen Bank, was appointed as chief adviser to an interim administration tasked with restoring order and preparing for elections. Initially hailed as a beacon of hope, the regime has faced mounting criticism for delaying polls and consolidating power without a democratic mandate.
The GCDG report highlights a historical pattern of extrajudicial executions across Bangladeshi governments, but argues that the current unelected setup exacerbates the issue due to its lack of accountability. “What should shock the conscience of any democratic society has instead become a tragic pattern,” the report states, noting that hopes for reform under Yunus have “faded fast” as killings escalate.
Key Findings: A Surge in State-Sponsored Violence
According to the report, the 85 documented cases represent a conservative estimate, with human rights observers suspecting higher numbers due to underreporting. Victims were killed in various circumstances, often labeled as “crossfire” encounters or mob violence, but the GCDG alleges these are orchestrated by state forces or affiliated groups.
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A breakdown of the victims shows a clear pattern:
– Political Affiliations: Over 60% were linked to the Awami League or its affiliates, including union presidents, secretaries, and activists. Examples include Shahidul Islam Ratan (SL 10), general secretary of a local Awami League unit in Bogura, killed on November 11, 2024, and Principal Shahadat Alam Jhunu (SL 13), an organizing secretary in Bogura, killed on November 26, 2024.
– Diverse Profiles: The list includes laborers like garment workers Kausar Hossain Khan (SL 6) and Champa Khatun (SL 8), fishermen like Mosleh Uddin (SL 19), and even heroic freedom fighters such as Yusuf Ali (SL 63) and Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun (SL 71), a former industries minister.
– Geographic Spread: Incidents span multiple districts, from Gopalganj and Bogura in the north to Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram in the south, indicating a nationwide issue.
– Temporal Trends: Killings peaked in late 2024 and early 2025, with clusters in October-November 2024 (e.g., 10 cases) and March-April 2025 (e.g., multiple in Gazipur and Moulvibazar).
The report includes detailed tables with victim names, addresses, identities, and news links (via tinyurls), though photos are often unavailable, underscoring documentation challenges.
Victim Profiles: Stories of the Silenced
The GCDG emphasises the human cost through individual accounts. For instance:
– Elahi Sikdar (SL 1), a 25-year-old Awami League activist from Gopalganj, was killed on May 6, 2014โwait, the report lists this date, but context suggests a possible typo aligning with the 2024-2026 timeframe for most entries.
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– Ethnic minorities feature prominently, such as multiple Bawm community members from Bandarban (SL 46, 55-59), killed in October-November 2023-2025, amid reported tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
– Women and youth are also represented, like Firoza Begum (SL 52), a 50-year-old from Kishoreganj killed in November 2023, and Durjoy Chowdhury (SL 67), a 27-year-old school assistant from Cox’s Bazar, slain in November 2025.
These profiles reveal a targeting of dissenters, with many victims holding low-level political roles or no affiliation at all, such as barbers and grocers.
Media Suppression and Underreporting
A major barrier to truth, per the report, is the interim government’s control over the press. Journalists face arrests, accreditation revocations, and attacks for covering these killings, leading to erased stories and self-censorship. “Many cases go entirely unreported,” the GCDG warns, attributing this to the regime’s “near-total control.”
Independent sources corroborate this: Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have echoed concerns about enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions, though the government denies systematic abuse, claiming incidents are isolated or involve criminal elements.
Government Response: Denials Amid Growing Scrutiny
The Yunus administration has dismissed allegations of extrajudicial killings as “politically motivated” by remnants of the former regime. In official statements, advisers have pointed to ongoing reforms in law enforcement and promised investigations into violence. However, critics argue these are superficial, with no independent probes initiated.
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International observers, including the UN Human Rights Council, have called for transparency, but the report notes a lack of concrete action, potentially due to Yunus’s global stature.
Call to Action: Ending the Culture of Impunity
The GCDG urges national and international human rights organisations to conduct impartial inquiries and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of rank. “Every instance must be investigated,” the report demands, labeling silence as complicity.
As Bangladesh grapples with this crisis, the report serves as a stark reminder: without democratic accountability, state violence risks becoming entrenched. The global community must act to prevent further erosion of human rights in the nation. For the full report, visit www.globalcdg.org.
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