Approximately 1,500 people killed in Bangladesh protests leading to the ousting of PM Hasina

Approximately 1,500 people lost their lives in protests that led to the ousting of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this year, with as many as 3,500 reportedly subjected to forced abductions during her 15-year rule, interim leader Muhammad Yunus stated on Sunday. 

The Nobel laureate and economist, tasked with overseeing elections, presented an estimate that exceeds the official count of about 1,000 deaths during the student-led demonstrations, which faced a brutal crackdown. 

The protests, which began in July against public sector job quotas, rapidly escalated into one of Bangladesh’s deadliest uprisings since its independence in 1971, ultimately forcing Hasina to flee to India. 

"Every day, new names are being added to the list of martyrs," Yunus said in a national address marking 100 days of the interim government, pledging to hold those responsible for the violence accountable. He emphasized his administration's commitment to justice for victims of what he described as the "wrath of an autocratic regime."

Yunus revealed that a commission investigating forced disappearances had already documented 1,600 cases by October, with the total potentially surpassing 3,500. He reiterated the interim government’s intention to pursue Hasina’s extradition from India and prosecute crimes committed during her tenure, including the disappearances, killings, and violence during the July-August protests.

"We will ensure that all crimes from the past 15 years are brought to justice," Yunus declared, adding that efforts were underway to bring these cases to international courts.

Yunus also announced plans to unveil a road map for the next general election in the country of 170 million, pending the completion of electoral reforms. Political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, have called on the interim government to present a clear timeline for national elections.

In September, Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, whose refusal to support Sheikh Hasina during the protests forced her departure, told Reuters that democracy could be restored within 12 to 18 months but urged patience.