The purpose of this report is to provide information on political developments and the human rights situation in Bangladesh under the interim government, which took office following student-led protests in July–August 2024. The report examines the interim government, its mandate and reform efforts, and ability to maintain public order and security, as well as its impact on civic space and human rights. Additionally, it covers the impact of the government transition on key parts of the state structure, including law enforcement and the judiciary, and the situation of a number of profiles. The report also provides information on the student protests that led to the resignation of the previous government, and the subsequent treatment of former ruling party members and supporters, and sheds light on new information on past human rights violations committed under the previous administration.
The reference period covered by this report is 16 May 2024—30 June 2025. It should be read in conjunction with the EUAA COI Report Bangladesh – Country Focus that was published before the student protests in 2024.
Political situation
Overview of the student protests and their aftermath
- Background to the protests
- Timeline of event in June-August 2024
- Violence during the protests
The new interim government
- Composition of the new interim government, its stated aims, authority and mandate
- Perceived legitimacy and support among the general population and civil society
- Announced reforms, and their implementation, with a particular focus on efforts to combat corruption
- Overview of new legislation in force, and abolished laws
Impact on actors within law enforcement
- Operational status following the power shift
- Announced reforms and their implementation
- Impact on the conduct of the Rapid Action Battalion, the Detective Branch and other actors accused of human rights abuse under the previous government, i.e. information on whether such conduct continues under the current government and whether such actors have been dissolved or purged
- Accountability for conduct of law enforcement serving under the former government
Impact on the justice sector
- Operational status following the power shift
- Announced reforms and their implementation
Human rights under the new government
- Corporal punishment and the death penalty
- Enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings
- Treatment of detained individuals, and prison conditions
Security and public order under the new government
- Violence and crime trends following the change of government
- Security developments in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Socio-economic situation
- National economic and financial situation, and poverty rates
- Climate-induced displacement
- Basic subsistence and employment
- Food security
- Housing
- Healthcare
Treatment of specific profiles and groups of the population
Awami League officials and party members
- Treatment by state actors
- Treatment of the general public, and other non-state actors such as former opposition party affiliates
- Accountability for conduct of government officials and law enforcement serving under the former government, including information on former officials leaving the country and on human rights abuse committed under the previous administration
- Other political party affiliates
Actors of civil society and the media
- Civic space under the new government
- Journalists and media workers
- Human rights defenders
Women and girls
- Position in society and discrimination, including information on single female heads of households
- Announced reforms addressing the rights of women and girls, and their implementation
- Targeted violence following the shift of power
- Violence against women, e.g. forced marriage
- Access to justice
Ethnic and religious minorities, including indigenous people
- Position in society and discrimination, including religious freedom
- Announced reforms addressing the rights of ethnic and religious minorities and indigenous people, and their implementation
- Targeted violence following the shift of power
- Rohingyas from Myanmar
LGBTIQ persons
- Position in society and discrimination
- Announced reforms addressing the rights of LGBTIQ persons, and their implementation
- Targeted violence following the shift of power
Bangladeshi nationals migrating abroad
- Migration profile
- Illegal money lending, and access to justice and legal assistance upon return
- Victims of trafficking in human beings
o Overview of trafficking of Bangladeshi nationals abroad
o Societal treatment upon return
o Access to justice and legal assistance