An updated report documents the unprecedented wave of coordinated attacks on law enforcement and prison infrastructure, police killings, the release of militants, and unfair institutional punishments under the interim government of Bangladesh. Published by the Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG), the publication examines the severe collapse of internal security, the looting of thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition, and systemic actions taken against police personnel.
Key figures and overview
As stated in the report:
- Attacks on Prisons: 17 prisons were attacked during the unrest, resulting in 2,247 escaping prisoners from five facilities, with unrecovered looted weapons and hundreds of dangerous criminals and militants still at large.
- Destruction of Police Infrastructure: 460 police establishments (including 58 police stations) were attacked, vandalized, or set ablaze, with extensive losses estimated at approximately 607 crore BDT ($50 million).
- Looted Arms and Ammunition: Assailants looted 5,756 firearms and 652,082 rounds of ammunition, with thousands remaining unrecovered.
- Police Casualties: At least 44 members of the Bangladesh Police were killed during the July–August 2024 movement, alongside BGB and Ansar members, accompanied by thousands of injuries.
- Institutional Actions: Over 50 BCS (Police) cadre officers sent into forced retirement, dismissal of probationary officers and trained sub-inspectors, and the arrest of 55 police officers.
What the report covers
The report outlines various dimensions of the crisis through detailed thematic sections:
- Attack on Prisons & Release of Militants: Details breaches across district and central jails (including Narsingdi, Sherpur, Satkhira, Keraniganj, Kashimpur High Security Prison, and others), documenting escaped convicts, death row inmates, and high-risk militants.
- Destruction of Police Infrastructure: Provides extensive data on attacks against the Police Headquarters, Rajarbagh Police Lines, DMP stations, and district units nationwide, highlighting the widespread circulation of illegal firearms.
- Police Killings: Documents individual accounts and graphic details of police personnel killed during the violence, noting the absence of justice or murder cases filed for slain officers.
- Unfair Institutional Punishment: Examines the mass forced retirements, dismissals of probationary and trained officers (such as the 40th cadet SIs), and the arrest of numerous police officials under the interim administration.
Conclusions
The report highlights that the unprecedented assault on prisons and police infrastructure, coupled with unresolved police killings and institutional purges, represents a severe crisis for internal security, justice, and the rule of law in Bangladesh.
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Report details
- Title: Attack on Prisons & Police Stations, Release of Militants, Police Killings And Unfair Institutional Punishment Under the Interim Government of Bangladesh
- Prepared and published by: Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG)
- Published date: 24 December 2025
The findings, allegations and opinions in this report are those of its publisher.
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