Bangladesh-based human rights organisation Odhikar has said incidents of human rights violations continued during July-September 2025, even after more than a year of the interim government’s rule that followed the mass uprising of August 2024.
In its latest quarterly report, the rights watchdog observed that despite the end of 15 years of authoritarian rule, the overall human rights situation remains a concern, urging the state to uphold its obligations and refrain from further violations.
The report recalled that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, accused of serious human rights violations including enforced disappearances, stepped down on 5 August 2024 amid a student-led movement and fled to India.
It said the interim government banned the Awami League soon after taking power on 8 August 2024, while Hasina and her associates have since been “engaged in conspiracies” from exile to destabilise Bangladesh.
Odhikar said such activities appeared to have contributed to a rise in criminal offences, adding that the Indian government continued to ignore Dhaka’s requests for Hasina’s extradition.
The organisation reiterated its longstanding criticism of the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2016, saying Sections 14 and 15 of the law were designed to restrict non-governmental organisations, particularly those promoting civil and political rights.
It urged the interim government to amend the law to restore democratic space and protect freedom of expression.
Odhikar also called for reforming the National Human Rights Commission to ensure its independence and transparency in appointments, noting that its current structure limits its ability to act effectively against abuses.
The report highlighted that incidents of custodial torture and deaths persist due to a culture of impunity and the lack of implementation of the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act 2013.
It welcomed the interim government’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) on 17 July 2025, terming it a “significant milestone” that reflected a commitment to human rights. The group urged the government to establish National Preventive Mechanisms under OPCAT to monitor detention facilities.
The report further noted Bangladesh’s accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance but called on the government to withdraw its reservations on two provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Odhikar said there had been no visible progress in holding senior military officials accountable for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the previous regime. It also reiterated the demand to dissolve the Rapid Action Battalion, saying allegations of grave abuses remained unaddressed.
The organisation criticised the Indian Border Security Force for continued killings and abuses of Bangladeshi citizens and alleged attempts by Indian authorities to push Rohingya and other Muslim minorities into Bangladesh unlawfully.
It urged the government to take a firm stance and strengthen border protection.
Odhikar said the report was prepared based on data from its network of human rights defenders and information from media sources.
