Human rights advocacy group Write For Rights has issued a strong condemnation of ongoing custodial deaths and extrajudicial killings targeting individuals affiliated with the Bangladesh Awami League since the fall of the former government in August 2024.
In a statement released on March 16, 2026, the organization described the pattern as a “severe erosion of human rights and the rule of law,” warning that continued impunity threatens Bangladesh’s prospects for genuine democratic reform.
Credible reports, survivor accounts, and media coverage point to persistent issues in prisons, including inhumane treatment, inadequate security, and a lack of accountability for those responsible. Write For Rights highlighted that at least three Awami League-linked individuals died in custody in the past 30 days alone, adding to a growing number over the 19 months since the political transition.
Probir Kumar Sarker, founder and chairperson of Write For Rights, stated: “These persistent custodial deaths and extrajudicial acts—alongside lynching, prolonged detention in false cases, and denial of bail—are not mere accidents but symptoms of systemic failure and potential political targeting.” He added that the cycle of impunity echoes past abuses and risks undermining fair governance, emphasizing that no political affiliation should excuse violations of fundamental human rights.
The group’s concerns align with broader international worries about post-August 2024 abuses, including retaliatory violence against former ruling party members. Various human rights reports have documented a rise in custodial deaths and extrajudicial incidents in the period following the establishment of the interim administration, with allegations of targeted repression against Awami League affiliates.
Write For Rights has outlined several urgent demands to address the situation:
– An immediate, comprehensive, and independent investigation into all extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths of Awami League-affiliated individuals since August 2024, supervised by the United Nations to ensure impartiality, transparency, and credibility.
– Swift action against perpetrators, including law enforcement officers, prison officials, and any involved political actors, through prosecutions meeting international human rights standards.
– The unconditional release of arbitrarily detained Awami League members, with guarantees of fair trials, proper medical care, protection from torture or ill-treatment, and humane custody conditions.
– Immediate reforms to Bangladesh’s prison and security systems to prevent future custodial deaths, halt arbitrary detentions, and eliminate mechanisms that enable impunity.
The organization called on the international community, including the United Nations Human Rights Council and relevant special rapporteurs, to monitor these violations closely, support independent inquiries, and advocate for accountability.
Sarker stressed that justice must be impartial and apply equally across political divides to protect human dignity for all Bangladeshi citizens.