8 extrajudicial killings in first 52 days of Bangladesh interim government

DHAKA: Bangladesh-based human rights organisation Odhikar has documented that at least eight people were victims of extrajudicial killings between August 9 and September 30 following the assumption of power in Dhaka by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on August 8. The three-month human rights report for July-September was prepared by Odhikar based on reports sent by human rights activists affiliated with it and data published by news outlets.

Of these eight victims, one died allegedly as a result of police torture, another from torture allegedly at the hands of the department of narcotics control, and three were tortured to death, allegedly by joint forces. Additionally, three people were shot dead by joint forces.

From August 9 to September 30 at least 52 people were killed and 1,308 people injured in political violence, the report says.

A total of 67 people were lynched between July and September. Of them, 36 were lynched from July 1 to August 5, and 31 from August 9 to September 30. From August 9 to September 30, however, no cases of alleged enforced disappearances were reported.

According to statistics collected by Odhikar, between August 9 and September 30 four journalists were injured, two were assaulted, three threatened; cases were filed against three while they were carrying out their professional duties.

The report says 1,581 people, including children, were killed and over 18,000 injured during the student-led mass uprising from July 1 to August 5, citing statistics from the Students Movement Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.