One Year of the Yunus Regime: Extrajudicial Killings and Custodial Deaths Persist in Bangladesh

When the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed power in August 2024, following the collapse of the Awami League administration, expectations ran high.

The leadership pledged to strengthen democracy, restore the rule of law, and protect human rights. Yet, one year on, evidence suggests that these aspirations remain far from realized.

Between August 2024 and July 2025, Bangladesh recorded sixty incidents of extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths, resulting in seventy victims, according to monitoring by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF). Of these, thirty-three incidents were linked to law enforcement and security forces, accounting for forty-three deaths, while twenty-seven deaths occurred inside prisons. These figures point to persistent structural weaknesses within the justice and security systems.

Dhaka emerged as the most affected division, with twenty-three incidents and twenty-eight victims, followed by Chittagong with seventeen incidents and twenty-one victims. Other divisions—including Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur, Barishal, and Mymensingh—reported smaller but significant numbers. While Dhaka and Chittagong were marked by deaths at the hands of security forces, Rajshahi recorded a higher share of prison-related fatalities. Together, these cases underline that the problem is national in scope rather than limited to specific regions.

The breadth of state institutions implicated further demonstrates the systemic nature of the issue. Beyond the police and prison authorities, cases were linked to the army, joint forces, the Rapid Action Battalion, the Coast Guard, the Navy, the Air Force, the Detective Branch, and the Department of Narcotics Control. Such widespread involvement reflects not isolated misconduct but a broader failure of accountability across state agencies.

The causes of death reveal equally troubling patterns. Torture remains the most common method, followed by shootings frequently described as “crossfire,” and a notable number of deaths associated with medical negligence. The latter is particularly alarming, as it highlights not only deficiencies in custodial care but also a broader disregard for detainee welfare.

Victims were not confined to political opposition. Nearly half were affiliated with the Bangladesh Awami League, while others belonged to smaller parties or had no political ties at all. This demonstrates that custodial deaths are not merely a product of partisan targeting but reflect a more widespread vulnerability faced by citizens under state custody.

Equally troubling is the limited pursuit of justice. Out of sixty incidents, only seven resulted in any form of legal action, leaving the majority unaddressed. This lack of accountability perpetuates a culture of impunity and deepens mistrust in state institutions.

Although the interim government has acknowledged the need for reform in law enforcement and the judiciary, progress has been slow. The persistence of custodial violence in its first year raises questions about the effectiveness of these commitments. Without meaningful reform, including independent investigations, stronger oversight, and credible remedies for victims, the cycle of abuse is unlikely to be broken.

Bangladesh stands at a pivotal moment. The interim government was tasked with guiding the country through a fragile transition, and its credibility rests on delivering not only promises but concrete action. Tackling extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths is central to restoring public trust and strengthening the rule of law.

If the first year of this administration is to be remembered as a turning point, it cannot be for inaction in the face of such grave violations. Rather, it must demonstrate a genuine commitment to accountability and reform. The alternative is the continuation of a cycle of impunity that undermines the very goals this government was expected to uphold.

Source: Shahanur Islam

Author's Bio: Advocate Shahanur Islam is a Bangladeshi human rights lawyer and Laureate of the 2023 French Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders. He is currently the Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF). He can be reached at shahanur.islam@jmbf.org; www.jmbf.org

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