An updated report documents 47 extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh during the period from September 8, 2024, to June 19, 2025. Published by the Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG), the publication examines the persistent culture of lawless state violence, the absence of democratic accountability under an unelected administration, and the severe implications for human rights and the rule of law.
Key figures and overview
As stated in the report:
- 47 Documented Extrajudicial Killings: Recorded between 08 September 2024 and 19 June 2025.
- Underreporting & Censorship: Human rights observers suspect the actual number is significantly higher due to near-total control over the press and severe consequences for journalists investigating these incidents.
What the report covers
The report outlines various dimensions of the crisis through dedicated sections:
- Historical Context: Highlights how extrajudicial executions have unfortunately persisted across successive administrations over Bangladesh’s 54-year history.
- Political Transition and Fading Hopes: Examines the removal of the elected government and the installation of an unelected administration led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, noting how initial hopes of ending state violence have faded.
- Constraints on Media Freedom: Details the grave challenges faced by journalists, including arrests, job losses, revocation of press accreditation, violent attacks on newsrooms, and the forced removal of published reports under pressure.
- Victim Records: Provides a detailed list of victims containing names, dates, addresses, individual identities, and verification links or QR codes pointing to source material.
Calls for action and accountability
The report emphasizes that every instance of extrajudicial killing must be subject to an impartial investigation, and those responsible must face justice regardless of rank or status to end the prevailing culture of impunity. It urgently calls upon national and international human rights organizations and global democratic institutions to launch independent inquiries and hold perpetrators accountable, stating that silence is complicity.
Read the Full Report
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Report details
- Title: Rule Without Mandate, Death Without Trial: Bangladesh’s Human Rights Crisis (47 Extrajudicial Killings)
- Prepared and published by: Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG)
- Reporting period: 08 September 2024 to 19 June 2025
- Published date: 01 July 2025
The findings, allegations and opinions in this report are those of its publisher.
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