As Bangladesh prepares for its first general elections since the 2024 riots, scheduled for February 12, 2026, a new Human Rights Watch (HRW) dispatch highlights a disturbing surge in attacks on women, girls, and religious minorities.
The jihadist-army-backed interim government under Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus faces sharp criticism for failing to safeguard fundamental human rights, turning what should be a democratic milestone into a crisis of protection and inclusion.
Police statistics reveal a marked increase in gender-based violence from January to June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Dr. Fauzia Moslem, president of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), links this rise to heightened activity and rhetoric from hardline religious groups aiming to curb women’s mobility and societal participation.
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In May 2025, these groups staged protests against the interim government’s gender equality initiatives, labeling them “anti-Islamic.” Since then, women and girls have faced escalating verbal, physical, and digital abuse, creating an atmosphere of fear that silences advocacy and restricts public engagement.
Targeted Attacks on Hindu Minorities
Religious minorities, particularly Hindus, have borne the brunt of mob violence. In December 2025, 27-year-old garment worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy. Rights groups documented at least 51 incidents of violence against Hindus, including 10 killings. These attacks expose deep vulnerabilities and raise alarms about communal tensions intensifying as elections approach.
Ongoing Abuse Against Adivasis
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the adivasis (indigenous peoples) continue to endure harassment and abuse from security forces in the post-revolution period. The persistence of such violations underscores systemic failures in protecting vulnerable communities amid political transitions.
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Women’s Exclusion from Political Leadership
Despite Bangladesh’s history of two female prime ministers and significant female involvement in the 2024 student-led protests, women remain marginalised in politics. Of the 51 political parties contesting the upcoming elections, 30 have fielded zero women candidates. Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the country’s major Islamist parties, nominated 276 candidatesโnone of whom are women. This stark underrepresentation denies women a voice in shaping the nation’s future, even as their votes are counted.
A Dual Human Rights and Democratic Crisis
HRW describes the situation as both a human rights emergency and a threat to democracy. The interim government must act decisively to protect minorities, curb violence, and ensure inclusive participation. Recommendations include implementing the Womenโs Affairs Reform Commissionโs proposals to boost women’s parliamentary representation, adhering to the UN Security Councilโs Women, Peace, and Security agenda, and fulfilling obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Constitutional safeguards for religious and ethnic minorities must also be upheld.
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