‘Don’t spiral once again into deadly abuses’

Human Rights Watch yesterday called on Bangladesh to support a UN-backed mechanism that can help secure a democratic future instead of succumbing to a cycle of violence and revenge.

Mentioning the demolition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house on Dhanmondi 32 by protesters, the international rights group said while anger against the former Awami League government is justified, lawlessness is not.

"Bangladesh, which has a history of political violence, should not spiral once again into deadly abuses," it said in a statement yesterday.

The HRW also mentioned how Sheikh Hasina had to step down after 15 years of repression, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances.

Her government had remained in office through consecutive unfair elections and then attempted to quell the 2024 uprising with excessive force, leading to over 800 deaths, the statement read.

"A mob in Bangladesh has demolished the Dhaka family home of ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina; properties owned by some of her relatives and party leaders were also targeted. The attack, a so-called "bulldozer procession,"  was announced and shared on social media. However, the authorities were still unable to protect the properties," the HRW said.

"There is growing demand on India to repatriate Hasina. But the Indian government will be required, under international standards, to evaluate risks ahead of extradition."

It also said the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, while facing a campaign of misinformation about alleged abuses against religious and ethnic minorities, has yet to "successfully reassure minority groups, particularly Hindus, who fear attacks".

"The military is obstructing access to sites of previous unlawful detentions and destroying evidence, apparently to protect its image," the rights group said.

The HRW said that the Yunus government should propose a consensus resolution at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council session in March to request technical assistance, further investigations, and monitoring and reporting by UN-backed human rights experts.

The resolution should also acknowledge the tyranny of the previous administration and recognise positive human rights steps taken by the interim government, it added.