TDS Desk:

The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has expressed concerns over the sharp rise in killings, rape, extortion, and mob violence in October this year.

In its monthly observation report, HRSS said political instability, violence, insecurity at both state and social levels, and a weakened rule of law were clearly reflected in the month’s events.

The report said incidents of attacks on journalists, political clashes, assaults on workers, violence against women, rape and child abuse had all increased.

Internal conflicts within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), political rivalry, and competition for local dominance have intensified clashes, leading to higher casualties.

Mob violence, lynching, restrictions on freedom of speech, attacks on minorities, and obstruction of rallies and assemblies continued throughout the month. Crimes such as extortion, theft, robbery and murder have fueled public fear and anxiety.

According to the report, at least 10 people were killed and 513 injured in 64 incidents of political violence during October. At least 48 journalists were assaulted or harassed in 34 separate incidents.

Although the number of mob-beating incidents slightly decreased compared to September, fatalities continued. At least 10 people were killed and 19 injured in 17 incidents of mob beating during the month.

At least 13 people were injured in two attacks targeting minority communities in October. Four Bangladeshi nationals were detained by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in four separate incidents along the border.

In addition, three Bangladeshi citizens were reportedly beaten to death by local residents in Tripura, India, on 15 October. One youth named Almas Uddin, aged 23, was shot dead by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel in Jaintapur, Sylhet.

At least seven inmates died in prisons across the country during the month – three convicts and four under-trial detainees.

A total of 35 incidents of worker abuse were recorded, resulting in 11 deaths and at least 116 injuries. Due to unsafe working conditions and lack of protective gear, 36 workers lost their lives in workplace accidents.

In October, at least 221 women and girls were victims of violence, including 78 rape cases. Among the rape victims, 37 (47%) were under the age of 18.

At least 133 children were victims of abuse – 34 were killed and 99 faced physical or psychological violence.

The report said 24 cases were filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other laws, naming 279 individuals and accusing 5,721 unidentified persons. At least 573 people were arrested in political cases during the month—544 from the Awami League and 25 from the BNP.

Additionally, 3,708 individuals were arrested in joint forces’ special drives across the country, most of them reportedly members of the Awami League, Jubo League, Swechasebak League and the banned Chhatra League.

The HRSS also expressed concern over push-ins of Bengali-speaking people by the BSF, arrests and injuries of innocent Bangladeshis along the Indian border, and the Arakan Army’s aggressive activities along the Myanmar frontier, which it said threaten Bangladesh’s sovereignty and citizen security.