New Delhi: A report released by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) has painted a grim picture of the human rights situation in Bangladesh under the interim leadership of Dr Mohammad Yunus, alleging that the country has descended into “a land of anarchy” during his first year in office.
The report, titled “One Year Reign of Dr Mohammad Yunus: Bangladesh Turned Into The Land of Anarchy”, compares the current state of governance to the previous administration, claiming that incidents of mob lynching, suppression of dissent, and violations of minority rights have surged significantly.
Citing data from August 2024 to July 2025, RRAG Director Suhas Chakma said that at least 637 people — including 41 police personnel — were reportedly lynched during the period, compared to 51 such cases recorded under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2023.
This marks a staggering increase of over 1,250%, the group stated.
The report also alleged a systematic dismantling of the judiciary and human rights institutions, highlighting the removal of 21 Supreme Court and High Court judges as well as the dismissal of all National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) members.
The NHRC, it noted, has remained non-functional since November 2024.
According to RRAG, the interim government has targeted a vast number of individuals through criminal proceedings, filing cases against more than 5.16 lakh people — including 79,491 named and 4,36,836 unnamed — across 1,567 FIRs.
The report further claimed that 878 journalists were subjected to state action, and 51 cases were filed under the Cyber Security Act of 2023, leading to 39 arrests.
Religious and ethnic minorities, including Hindus and indigenous communities from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), were reportedly among the worst affected.
The report detailed 2,485 incidents of violence against these groups and cited specific events, including alleged military-backed attacks in Dighinala, Khagrachari, and Rangamati following a peaceful indigenous rally in September 2024.
In one case, Hindu priest Chinmoy Das was charged with sedition — and later, murder — after organising a protest in Chittagong. He has reportedly been imprisoned since November 2024.
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RRAG also criticised the constitutional reform process under the interim administration, stating that it excluded representatives from minority and indigenous communities.
The final recommendations of the Constitutional Reform Commission, it noted, included the removal of “secularism” from the Constitution — a move the group believes could undermine religious freedom in Bangladesh.
Chakma warned that, with elections ahead, the situation could further deteriorate.
“The growing instability not only threatens Bangladesh’s democratic framework but also poses serious risks to regional peace and security in South Asia,” he added.
