By 
21-02-2025
Patricia Petrosian
SouthEast Asia Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
Bangladesh has become the focal point of growing international concern, as allegations of excessive force and politically motivated detentions by security forces intensify. In recent months, the country has experienced widespread unrest sparked by political change and mass demonstrations. Yet rather than ensuring order through fair and impartial means, law enforcement officials stand accused of using heavy-handed tactics that disproportionately target opposition figures, activists, and critical voices.
Reports from civil society observers describe repeated incidents in which security personnel have broken up peaceful gatherings, inflicted injuries on protesters, and carried out arrests with little regard for due process. One controversial initiative, dubbed “Operation Devil Hunt,” has generated particular alarm. While authorities insist they are rooting out criminal activity, critics contend that the campaign is guided by political loyalties rather than public safety imperatives. As a result, families linked to the ousted administration, as well as vocal government opponents, have seen their properties ransacked or destroyed.
Against this backdrop, the continuing fallout from the former prime minister’s resignation last year adds to the turmoil. Her departure came amid large-scale demonstrations calling for transparency and accountability in governance. Initially, many Bangladeshis hoped that a new interim leadership would usher in a fairer political environment. However, reports of arbitrary arrests, violent crackdowns, and interference with media freedoms have instead underscored a growing fear that rule of law is precariously fragile.
Legal experts point to international standards—such as the United Nations’ Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms—that underscore proportionality and necessity in policing. They argue that overly forceful measures risk exacerbating tensions, rather than defusing them. For many Bangladeshis, each new outbreak of unrest or reported violation drives home the urgent need for comprehensive security sector reforms, which would include enhanced oversight mechanisms, transparent investigations of misconduct, and training designed to strengthen respect for human rights.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens find themselves caught in a crossfire of political tensions. In some areas, locals live in fear of sudden arrests or property raids, and healthcare facilities strain to cope with those wounded in clashes between demonstrators and police. Residents in Gazipur, for instance, continue to recount harrowing stories of protest-related violence, including injuries requiring urgent hospital treatment. Some community groups have come forward with evidence suggesting that raids or detentions frequently follow public criticism of the interim government, fuelling allegations of selective enforcement.
The current climate raises pressing questions about accountability. Although government representatives have occasionally acknowledged the need for impartial policing, tangible progress remains limited. There is a widespread expectation from international human rights bodies and various UN mechanisms that Bangladesh take decisive steps to uphold its obligations under international law. Such measures, advocates stress, would not only protect the rights of citizens but also help restore trust in state institutions, essential for long-term stability and peace.
Whether the interim government can navigate this delicate moment depends largely on how swiftly and comprehensively it addresses allegations of abusive law enforcement. Calls for impartial investigations, effective legal remedies, and structural reform within the police have grown louder. For many observers, the stakes are high: failure to act risks deepening public disillusionment, perpetuating cycles of protest and repression, and tarnishing Bangladesh’s international standing.
Sources and further reading:
Reuters. (2025, February 7). Bangladesh Asks India to Stop Former PM Hasina from Making “False Statements”. Reuters. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-asks-india-stop-former-pm-hasina-making-false-statements-2025-02-07/
The New Indian Express. (2025, February 9). Bangladesh Crackdown on Ex-Regime Loyalists. The New Indian Express. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2025/Feb/09/bangladesh-crackdown-on-ex-regime-loyalists
Human Rights Watch. (2025, February 12). Bangladesh: Uphold Impartiality in Law Enforcement. Human Rights Watch. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/02/12/bangladesh-uphold-impartiality-law-enforcement
Dhaka. (2025). Crime and Law in Bangladesh. Prothom Alo. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/crime-and-law/yv1cwv62p0
Meenakshi Ganguly. (2025, February 6). Mob in Bangladesh Destroys Ousted PM’s Family Home. Human Rights Watch. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/02/06/mob-bangladesh-destroys-ousted-pms-family-home
The Daily Star. (2025). Operation Devil Hunt: It Will Go on Until All “Devils” Are Rooted Out. The Daily Star. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/operation-devil-hunt-it-will-go-until-all-devils-rooted-out-3820306
The Daily Star. (2025). Stop Attacks on Assets Linked to AL or Any Citizen. The Daily Star. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/stop-attacks-assets-linked-al-or-any-citizen-3818446
The Daily Star. (2025). 18 Injured in Gazipur Attack, 12 Taken to DMCH. The Daily Star. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/18-injured-gazipur-attack-12-taken-dmch-3819021
Human Rights Watch. (2025, January 27). After the Monsoon Revolution: A Roadmap to Lasting Security Sector Reform in Bangladesh. Human Rights Watch. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.hrw.org/report/2025/01/27/after-monsoon-revolution/roadmap-lasting-security-sector-reform-bangladesh
Human Rights Watch. (2024, August 6). Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Resigns Amid Mass Protests. Human Rights Watch. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/08/06/bangladesh-prime-minister-hasina-resigns-amid-mass-protests
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2025, February). Bangladesh: UN Report Finds Brutal, Systematic Repression of Protests, Calls for Accountability. OHCHR. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/02/bangladesh-un-report-finds-brutal-systematic-repression-protests-calls
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (1990, September 7). Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. OHCHR. Accessed 21 February 2025. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/basic-principles-use-force-and-firearms-law-enforcement
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