At least 36 people were killed and over 4,078 injured in political violence across Bangladesh in the first three months of 2026, according to a quarterly report published by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) on Saturday.
The report, covering January to March, recorded 610 violent incidents, with 94 percent occurring in intra-BNP conflicts or between the BNP and other political parties.
Of the 36 killed, 28 (78 percent) were from the BNP, four from Jamaat-e-Islami, one from the Awami League, and three from other parties.
Intra-BNP clashes alone resulted in 194 incidents, leaving 24 dead and at least 1,585 injured. Clashes between the BNP and Jamaat led to seven deaths and 1,654 injuries across 260 incidents.
Election-related violence
The report noted that 395 election-centred incidents claimed 12 lives and injured 2,573 people. Over 600 attacks, vandalism, and arson incidents targeted business establishments, homes, and election offices during the pre- and post-election period.
Attacks on minorities, journalists
At least 31 people were injured in 27 attacks on minority communities, with four temples, two idols, and 19 residential houses vandalised.
A total of 183 journalists faced torture or harassment in 82 attacks, with 122 injured and two detained. Eight journalists were charged in two separate cases under the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.
Mob violence, women and child abuse
Forty-nine people were killed and 80 injured in 88 incidents of mob violence and lynching.
Some 670 women and girl children were victims of abuse, including 147 rape cases – 76 of them minors. Thirty-nine women and children suffered gang rape, and nine were killed after rape.
A total of 328 children were victims of abuse, with 138 losing their lives and 190 suffering physical and mental abuse.
Custodial deaths, border incidents
Seven people died in custody, torture, or alleged gunfights involving law enforcement agencies, while 39 inmates died in prisons – 23 of them under-trial detainees.
On the India-Bangladesh border, BSF attacks killed one and injured 11, including four by gunfire. On the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, one was killed, five injured, four shot, and 32 detained.
HRSS Executive Director Ijazul Islam warned that failure to address political violence, mob justice, custodial deaths, and restrictions on free expression could further deteriorate the human rights situation. He urged the government to take more accountable steps and called on citizens, media, and civil society to play a more active role.
