Human Rights Security Society (HRSS) reports no substantial progress in human rights since Hasina’s departure

Despite some improvements in certain areas of human rights since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5, substantial progress has yet to be observed three months later, according to the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) in its October report. Some areas of human rights have even declined.

HRSS urged authorities to collaborate with leaders of the July-August movement, civil society, and political parties to reinforce democratic practices, warning that the human rights situation could worsen if these efforts are neglected.

The reported human rights violations include the death of a female garment worker in a clash with law enforcement, killings by Myanmar security forces, attacks on Hindu temples, the murder of two journalists, an increase in political violence, a rise in mob lynchings, and ongoing arbitrary legal charges since Hasina’s ouster.

October also saw an influx of 40,000 Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar amid escalating conflict between the junta and rebels.

There were at least 68 political clashes in October. Of these, 26 involved confrontations between the ousted Awami League and its primary opponent BNP, while 25 were internal BNP factional disputes. Additionally, three BNP-Jamaat clashes were recorded. Of the nine killed in these clashes, four were from the BNP, two from the Awami League, and three from the UPDF, an indigenous rights group from the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Notably, three of the four BNP fatalities were due to internal factional violence, with over 400 people injured in total.

Furthermore, 12 political figures lost their lives in attacks by criminals and territorial leaders.

Around 55 lawsuits were filed against Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League associates in October. Alarmingly, many of these cases included the names of innocent or deceased individuals.

Approximately 45 journalists faced physical assault or harassment in 21 incidents, with two journalists killed, 22 injured, and seven detained.

Abuses by foreign security forces were also documented, with two Bangladeshis killed in four attacks by India’s Border Security Force, while Myanmar’s Border Guard Police killed one Bangladeshi and detained 48 in three incidents.

Nineteen people died in mob lynchings, including two suspected of theft—one in Kushtia and another in Bogura.

A concerning 117 women and girls were subjected to sexual violence in October. Of these, 55 were raped, including 27 minors under 18. Nine women and girls were gang-raped, and seven were killed following rape.

Domestic violence led to the deaths of 37 women, while 10 others took their own lives.

Additionally, 76 children faced abuse in October, with 40 murdered.