Guwahati, Feb 7: As Dr. Mohammed Yunus’ government marks six months in power, the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) has released a damning report, “Bangladesh: The Case for Establishing OHCHR Field Office”, detailing grave human rights violations, including judicial suppression, political persecution, attacks on minorities, and media crackdowns.
The group has called on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to pass a resolution establishing a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) office in Bangladesh during its 58th session (Feb 24–April 4) in Geneva.
According to RRAG, the justice system has been turned into a tool of oppression. By January 31, over 500,000 individuals linked to the previous Sheikh Hasina government were implicated in 1,520 criminal cases, with 74,224 named and 429,996 unnamed accused.
Journalists have faced relentless attacks under Yunus’ administration – 21 criminal cases filed against 147 journalists, money laundering investigations launched against 34 journalists and 167 journalists denied accreditation.
There are reports of violent attacks on The Daily Star and Prothom Alo by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement (ADSM). Somoy TV was forced to sack five journalists under pressure. 24 individuals were arrested under the draconian Cyber Security Act of 2023 in 34 cases in 2024.
The independence of the judiciary has been dismantled, with 21 Supreme Court and High Court judges forced to resign under ADSM-led protests- 6 Supreme Court judges (August 10, 2024), 12 High Court judges (October 16, 2024) and 3 High Court judges (November 19, 2024).
Additionally, all members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) were forced to resign on November 7, 2024, with no replacements appointed, effectively eliminating institutional avenues for justice.
Freedom of association and assembly remains heavily restricted, with an effective ban on Awami League’s political activities. Minority and indigenous rights activists faced brutal crackdowns during peaceful protests, including “March for Identity” rallies attacked in Khagrachari (Sept 18, 2024), Chittagong (Oct 25, 2024), Rangpur (Nov 22, 2024), and Dhaka (Jan 15, 2025), Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari jailed on sedition charges (Nov 25, 2024), over 2,000 attacks on religious minorities, mostly Hindus, between Aug 4–20, 2024, government dismissed reports of these attacks as “politically motivated”, with 98.4% of cases falsely classified as political violence.
RRAG warns of a 131% rise in mob lynching deaths in 2024 compared to 2023, with 128 recorded lynchings in 2024. The ADSM, acting as an enforcer for the government, has been involved in burning down Jatiya Party headquarters in Dhaka, demolition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence at Dhanmondi 32 and intimidation of political opponents and judges.
RRAG Director Suhas Chakma warned, “Bangladesh is on the verge of collapse. If the UNHRC fails to act, justice will be the ultimate victim.” The impunity granted to protestors responsible for the deaths of 44 policemen in the July–August 2024 uprising underscores the crisis.
The RRAG urges the UN to establish an OHCHR office in Bangladesh to monitor human rights violations and prevent the country from descending into further chaos.
