The United States’ annual human rights report has noted that while the human rights situation in Bangladesh has stabilised following the August 2024 mass uprising, concerns remain in certain areas. 

The 2024 report was released on Tuesday (August 12).

The report highlights that there is room for improvement in addressing past serious legal violations, establishing the rule of law, and protecting civil rights. During the previous government’s tenure, arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, and police and political violence were widespread.

It said that in 2024, weeks of student protests and clashes with police and Awami League-affiliated organisations resulted in hundreds of deaths. 

Following these events, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5.

On 8 August, a caretaker government was formed with Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus appointed as Chief Adviser. Some human rights violations occurred in August, but overall the situation in Bangladesh remained stable, though concerns persisted.

The report also notes that during the previous government’s rule, serious human rights issues included arbitrary or unlawful killings, disappearances, torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrests or detention, harassment of critics abroad, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and the media—including violence or threats against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions, and censorship—significant restrictions on labour organisation, and the persistence of the worst forms of child labour.

After the caretaker government took office, more than a thousand cases filed under the Digital Security Act and other cyber laws were withdrawn, and detainees were released, the report added.

MSK/