Bangladesh: Awami League warns of rights violations under Yunus-led interim government

DHAKA, Dec 9: Bangladesh’s Awami League has raised serious alarm over what it calls escalating human rights abuses under Muhammad Yunus’s interim government, accusing it of “ruling through fear.”
The party says November revealed a dramatic deterioration in civil liberties, with ordinary citizens — including students, journalists, and activists — living in an atmosphere of intimidation.
It noted that dozens were killed within a month, people were detained for social media posts, and hundreds terrorised through raids.
According to the Awami League, speaking out, joining protests, or expressing opinions online can now lead to arrest or harassment.
The party alleges that state institutions, including police and intelligence agencies, have been turned into instruments of control, operating with impunity.
It claims the violations are systematic, suggesting that lethal force has been authorised against protesters, highlighting a government prioritising power over citizens’ safety and rights.
The party added that due process is largely ignored, justice institutions are failing, and human dignity is routinely violated.
November also saw a rise in mob violence, with 16 people killed and 11 injured in more than 20 incidents.
Additionally, bodies found in suspicious circumstances increased, heightening public fear.
Rights groups documented over 300 warrantless house-to-house raids involving intimidation, property damage, and arbitrary detentions.
The Awami League says this climate has reshaped daily life: teachers avoid sensitive topics, activists scrub their online presence, and communities withdraw from public activity.
It argues that the interim government has created a reality where fear replaces law, compliance replaces citizenship, and dissent becomes impossible. (IANS)