Delhi Think Tank Targets Bangladesh Interim Government Over Political Violence
A Delhi-based research group, the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), plans to file a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Bangladesh's interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The complaint alleges atrocities against members of Bangladesh’s Awami League and associated organizations during the current political unrest.
Allegations of 'Taliban-Style' Killings
The RRAG accuses the interim government of overseeing or enabling the deaths of 123 Awami League members, including at least 41 individuals hacked to death in a brutal manner described as "Taliban-style," involving throat-slitting and extreme violence. Additionally, 21 deaths reportedly occurred in government custody.
According to RRAG Director Suhas Chakma, the documented cases represent only a fraction of the actual violence, as many incidents went unreported in local media. The victims included vulnerable groups such as children, women, mentally unstable individuals, and people with physical disabilities.
Documented Cases of Violence
- December 5, 2024: Arina Begum was killed during prayer because her son, a student political leader, was in hiding. This killing is part of a pattern targeting affiliates of the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League.
- September 19, 2024: Tofazzal Hossain, a mentally unstable former student leader, was beaten to death by a mob at Dhaka University amid accusations of theft. Despite having an advanced degree, he endured torture before succumbing to his injuries. Several students were arrested, and a murder case was initiated.
- September 8, 2024: Abdullah Al Masud, another former student leader, was fatally attacked by a mob near Rajshahi University while purchasing medicine for his newborn child.
Context and Political Tensions
The ongoing violence follows the ousting of Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League from power in August 2024 after a student-led uprising. Dr. Muhammad Yunus now heads the interim government. The RRAG states that political opposition groups, including Jamaat-I-Islami, the Bangladesh National Party, and others, have contributed inflammatory rhetoric, fueling retaliatory attacks against Awami League members.
The group draws comparisons between the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh and the post-election violence in Kenya during 2007-2008, which was previously investigated as crimes against humanity by the ICC.
International Actions Ahead
The Rights and Risks Analysis Group has announced plans to escalate its concerns to the International Criminal Court and flag the issue with authorities in London, ahead of Dr. Yunus’s scheduled visit to the United Kingdom on June 10, 2025.
