The New Delhi-based Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) has alleged that at least 123 members of the Awami League and its affiliate organisations were reportedly killed in targeted attacks by the terrorists and Islamists supporting the Yunus-led regime.
Releasing a report, titled โBangladesh: Organised murder for membership to the Awami League and its affiliate organisations,โ Suhas Chakma, director of RRAG, said: โThese murders are just the tip of the iceberg, as not all cases were reported in local media. The RRAG also faced limitations in monitoring all local outlets.โ
The report covers the period from August 5, 2024, to April 30, 2025.
The rights group said among the deceased are at least 41 Awami League members who were hacked to death, sometimes by throat-slitting in a โTaliban-styleโ manner. Additionally, 21 others died while in the custody of the interim government.
According to the Awami Leagueโs central leaders, the number of deceased party workers is 400-500, while many others have remained missing. The targeted murder of members of the police, Ansar and other forces is also alarming.
The party has called for an in-depth investigation to determine the death toll and the nature of the violence.
After capturing power, the interim government cancelled the operations of the judicial inquiry committee formed at the order of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the July 16 violence, when six people, including a Chhatra League activist, were killed.
It also awarded impunity to the perpetrators of violence, murder, rape and looting, and stopped the investigation into the murders of Awami League activists and members of the police that have taken place since July 16.
Suhas Chakma said that the shrill political rhetoric by political opponents, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and the top leadership of the Interim Government headed by Dr Mohammed Yunus, effectively encouraged vengeance against the Awami League.
According to media reports, police have arrested over 359,000 people, mostly Awami League leaders, activists and supporters, in 10 months. Attacks on them take place in courts regularly, and most of them have been denied bail.
In a recent message, Sheikh Hasina said: โPolice did not take action against the students till July 15. We gave them protection. But they started anarchy, torched government buildings, metrorail, the Mayor Hanif flyover, and the state TV stationโฆ They took to the streets with sharp weapons, sticks and firearms. They killed the police and hanged their bodies from the overbridge.โ
The RRAG has mentioned several gruesome murders carried out by the pro-Yunus goons.
On September 8, 2024, Abdullah Al Masud, a former Rajshahi University Chhatra League leader who used a prosthetic leg, was beaten to death by the members of Islami Chhatra Shibir despite no longer being associated with the Chhatra League. He lost his leg in an attack by Shibir members in 2014.
On September 19, 2024, Tofazzal, a mentally unstable member of Kathaltoli Union Chhatra League, was tortured to death by a student mob at Dhaka University.
A day before, a former leader of the Jahangirnagar University Chhatra League, Shamim Molla, was beaten to death by Chhatra Dal and pro-Yunus student gangs on the campus.
Even though the authorities filed cases against some of the perpetrators, there has been no progress in the cases.
On the other hand, the government supporters are attacking and looting Awami League members, journalists, cultural activists, professionals and religious minorities while the authorities are filing murder cases against them.
The number of arrests and attacks has increased since May 12, when the government banned the Awami League and its affiliate organisations.
Rights activists say anyone saying anything in support of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 1971 Liberation War, the Awami League, and Sheikh Hasina, or demanding justice for the anarchy by the Yunus supporters or criticising them, is being subjected to mob attacks and targeted killings.
The government spokespersons and the police are also labelling such murders as petty crimes, while the media is not covering the news, which may irk the authoritative government.
Such is an example of the murder of Chhatra League leaders Md Masud Rana and Md Raihan from Nachole in Chapainawabganj, who were killed on December 17 after they posted a video of writing โJoy Banglaโโthe slogan of the Awami League and the Liberation Warโon the walls.
The RRAG notes that out of approximately 1,400 people killed during the violence, many were likely Awami League members, but their families were too afraid to testify to the UN due to threats and ongoing violence.
The group further criticized the Interim Government for granting de facto immunity to perpetrators by prohibiting police investigationsโeven in the murder of 44 policemen during the July-August uprising.
The RRAG declared the killings a clear case of crimes against humanity, as defined under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), involving โwidespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population on political grounds.โ
It identified Dr Yunus, as head of the Interim Government, and Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser for Home Affairs, as responsible under the principle of โcommand responsibilityโ (Article 28 of the Rome Statute).
The RRAG confirmed it would submit a formal complaint to the ICC, drawing parallels to the Courtโs investigation into Kenyaโs post-election violence in 2007โ2008.
The matter is also being raised with the UK Government ahead of Dr Yunusโs planned visit to the UK from June 10-13, 2025, where he is scheduled to receive the Harmony Award 2025 from King Charles III.
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