Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Wednesday that Bangladesh’s interim government failed to implement adequate human rights protections, one year after the overthrow of the previous government.
The rights group noted that while the current government, led by Mohammed Yunus, has taken some positive steps towards improving the human rights situation, issues of impunity and other abuses persist.
HRW’s deputy Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly described the current government as “stuck, juggling an unreformed security sector, sometimes violent religious hardliners, and political groups that seem more focused on extracting vengeance on [supporters of the previous government] than protecting Bangladeshis’ rights.”
HRW emphasized how the state of affairs does not align with the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people. Although the repressive measures and abuses, characteristic of the previous administration, have ended, the interim government has conducted arbitrary detentions of political opponents and failed to implement necessary reforms in the security and judicial sectors.
Moreover, the current administration continues to face significant challenges, including mob violence and harassment of journalists by political parties and non-state groups. HRW reported that violent clashes between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina erupted in July, resulting in the deaths of five people.
Police have also detained hundreds of former state officials. Some high-profile detainees have claimed that their arrests were baseless, accusing the government of denying them medical care and bail. According to HRW, many detentions of individuals allegedly connected to the Awami League, Hasina’s political party, appeared arbitrary and politically motivated.
The rights group further criticized the interim government for not fully investigating the enforced disappearances that occurred during Hasina’s rule, especially following Bangladesh’s ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The government responded that, while the investigative commission collected significant evidence, members of security forces destroyed that evidence and prevented efforts to hold the alleged abusers accountable, hindering the investigation.
HRW called on foreign governments and the UN to support the interim government during this transitional phase. It also urged the government to end arbitrary detentions and to combat impunity by prosecuting those responsible for serious crimes. The group also emphasized the need for the government to implement legal and constitutional reforms in judicial and security sectors.
Bangladesh’s interim government was established in August 2024 following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid nationwide protests against her administration. According to the UN, serious human rights violations were committed during these protests, which may constitute crimes against humanity. In addition to accusations of human rights abuses, the Anti-Corruption Mission filed three lawsuits against Hasina for corruption in January.
The interim government was tasked with implementing reforms necessary to conduct elections in June 2026, yet it also faced criticism regarding human rights violations. In February, Reporters Without Borders condemned the escalating attacks on journalists, which allegedly violated the constitutional rights of media professionals. Following this, international human rights organizations urged the interim government to protect freedoms of expression and opinion during the country’s political transition.
