Human Rights Watch has stressed maintaining the law and order situation in Bangladesh, saying, “while anger against the former Awami League government is justified, lawlessness is not.”
Meenakshi Ganguly, its deputy director for Asia, issued the statement on Thursday, against the backdrop of demolition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s family home in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.
The report – titled ‘Mob in Bangladesh destroys ousted PM’s family home – addressed demolition of Sheikh Hasina’s family home and properties owned by her relatives and party leaders.
“The attack, a so-called “bulldozer procession,” was announced and shared on social media. However, the authorities were still unable to protect the properties,” it noted, reminding that the nation “should not spiral once again into deadly abuses.”
The rights watchdog suggested that the Yunus government should propose a consensus resolution at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council session in March to request technical assistance, further investigations, and monitoring and reporting by UN-backed human rights experts. The resolution should also acknowledge the tyranny of the previous administration and recognise positive human rights steps taken by the interim government.
“Bangladeshis, anxious to see justice done, should support a United Nations-backed mechanism that can help secure a democratic future instead of succumbing to a cycle of violence and revenge,” it added.
Regarding the ousted regime, the report noted six months ago, in August 2024, Sheikh Hasina stepped down after 15 years of repression, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances.
Protests led by students, described by many as the monsoon revolution, eventually forced her into exile in India.
Hasina’s Awami League party government, which had remained in office through consecutive unfair elections, attempted to quell the protests with excessive force, leading to over 800 deaths.
The report also addressed the background of vandalism at the ousted prime minister's family home and noted that the development came as Hasina was going to address her supporters online. “There is growing demand on India to repatriate Hasina. But the Indian government will be required, under international standards, to evaluate risks ahead of extradition.”
Regarding the current administration in Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch said the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has embarked upon reforms to repair institutions, including the justice system. It is also taking steps towards accountability for rights violations and corruption, and has pledged credible elections.
However, the Yunus administration is under pressure from increasingly restless citizens, including political groups, students, or families of those harmed during the monsoon revolution, it observed.
The report also mentioned a misinformation campaign against the interim government regarding alleged abuses against religious minorities.
"While it is facing a campaign of misinformation about alleged abuses against religious and ethnic minorities, it has yet to successfully reassure minority groups, particularly Hindus, who fear attacks. The military is obstructing access to sites of previous unlawful detentions and destroying evidence, apparently to protect its image," the statement added.