A global advocacy group has expressed serious worries about a significant increase in extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The Global Centre for Democratic Governance, based in Canada, highlighted that since September 8, 2024, there have been around 85 reported cases of extrajudicial executions, with concerns that the actual number could be higher. The group emphasized that as the unelected Yunus administration prolongs its rule, instances of extrajudicial killings are on the rise in Bangladesh.
The organization pointed out that due to the government’s tight control over the media, many of these incidents are either underreported or not reported at all. Journalists who attempt to investigate or publish such stories face severe repercussions, including arrests, loss of employment, withdrawal of press credentials, and violent assaults on news outlets. The GCDG mentioned that some reports are even deleted under duress, erasing the truth and instilling fear.
Accusing the interim government led by Yunus of operating without accountability to the public, the organization stated that it disregards the serious accusations surrounding extrajudicial killings in the country. Stressing the need for impartial investigations into every extrajudicial killing, the group demanded that all individuals responsible, irrespective of their position, be brought to justice. It emphasized the necessity to put an end to the prevailing culture of impunity.
The Global Centre for Democratic Governance urgently called upon national and international human rights organizations, along with global institutions dedicated to justice, to initiate independent probes into extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. It asserted that remaining silent on such matters amounts to complicity and urged the international community to take action without delay.
In a separate development, a human rights organization in Bangladesh, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), highlighted various rights violations in the country, including mob violence, extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, persecution of minorities, political violence-related deaths, and curbs on press freedom. According to ASK’s recent report, incidents of “mob terrorism” have surged significantly throughout 2025, resulting in 197 fatalities from January to December, compared to 128 deaths the previous year. The report also revealed that since the interim government led by Yunus assumed power in 2024, at least 293 individuals have lost their lives due to mob violence. Bangladesh continues to witness a rise in human rights abuses and targeted attacks on minority groups, particularly the Hindu community, under the current interim government.
