Bangladesh's human rights situation stable except some concerns: State Dept

Following a change in governance, Bangladesh’s human rights situation has become stable. However, some concerns remain. This information was stated in the US Department of State’s annual report on Bangladesh’s situation in 2024.

According to the report, after the fall of the Hasina government, the interim government arrested former members of the previous administration accused of human rights violations. It also noted that during the previous government, there were widespread allegations of impunity for those responsible for human rights abuses.

The report further said that during the July and August uprising, the Bangladesh Chhatra League committed serious human rights violations.

The US Department of State published the report on its website on Tuesday (August 12, local time).

In the summary of the US annual human rights report, it was stated that after weeks of massive student protests and clashes with police and the ruling Awami League’s youth organization, in which hundreds were killed, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5.

On August 8, the President appointed Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser (equivalent to Prime Minister) and formed an interim government. While some incidents occurred in August, the human rights situation gradually stabilized, though some concerns remain.

Major human rights violations reported during the previous government included: unlawful or intentional killings; enforced disappearances; torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment; arbitrary arrest or detention; transnational repression against individuals living abroad; severe restrictions on freedom of expression and media (including violence or threats against journalists, arbitrary arrests or lawsuits, and censorship); significant barriers to freedom of association for workers; violence or threats against labor leaders and union members; and widespread presence of the worst forms of child labor.

Additionally, there were widespread allegations of impunity for those responsible for human rights violations during the previous government. Few efforts were made to identify and punish officials or members of law enforcement. However, after the fall of the government, the interim administration arrested former members accused of such abuses.

Reliable reports from human rights organizations and the media stated that in July and August, the Bangladesh Chhatra League—the student wing of the former ruling Awami League—committed serious human rights violations. To bring those responsible to justice, the interim government, with assistance from the United Nations, has used both the regular judicial system and the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal.