Human Rights Violence during July-August 2024 Mass Uprising in Bangladesh

In June 2024, an anti-discrimination student led movement erupted in response to the High Court's declaration of the government's 2018 directive to abolish quotas as illegal. The government responded the protest with extensive crackdowns during July and August, resulting in thousands of injuries and deaths among students and civilians. Incidents of baton charges, tear gas, sound grenades, water cannons, shootings, enforced disappearances, killings, arrests, false charges, and harassment became daily occurrences.

Furthermore, during the protests, the past government imposed an internet blackout and declared a state of emergency, leading to widespread massacres. Members of the ruling Awami League and its affiliate organizations, including its youth and student wings, joined state forces in these violent attacks. Amidst the unrest, public outrage culminated in a mass uprising. On August 5, after the student coordinator called for March to Dhaka, the autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country.

Regarding the anti-discrimination student-people movement, HRSS gathered information from victims' families, eyewitnesses, hospitals, and national newspapers confirms the deaths of 1,013 individuals so far. Furthermore, based on credible data from media, hospitals, and other sources, it is estimated that the death toll is at least 1,200. Among the deceased are students, laborers, journalists, professionals, law enforcement members, children, women, and supporters or activists of various political parties. At least 136 children and 13 girls or women have lost their lives in the movement. The nationwide uprising has resulted in at least 30,000 injuries. Thousands of students and civilians have lost limbs or eyes, with over 600 people losing vision in one or both eyes. There are allegations of enforced disappearances involving at least 13 coordinators and individuals associated with the movement, as well as numerous cases of unlawful detention.
In connection with the movement, at least 270 journalists were injured, threatened, arrested, or harassed while carrying out their professional duties, and 6 journalists were killed. From July 17 to August 4, over 950 cases were filed nationwide, accusing more than 600,000 people, with at least 12,000 individuals arrested. Following Sheikh Hasina's departure from the country, more than 500 police stations, outposts, and government infrastructure were attacked, vandalized, or set on fire. Additionally, at least 1,000 houses, vehicles, and businesses were attacked, vandalized, set on fire, or looted. During this period, at least 65 attacks on minority communities were reported, resulting in injuries to at least 61 individuals. Furthermore, 15 temples, 228 homes, and 240 shops or businesses were vandalized, looted, or set on fire.