Awami League Condemns Muhammad Yunus-Led Interim Government for Brutality, Political Persecution, and Human Rights Violations

Dhaka, Sept 2025 : Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League has strongly condemned the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of transforming what was intended as a temporary administration into a regime characterized by authoritarianism, violence, and betrayal of the very citizens it is meant to serve.

The party alleged that the government’s actions — ranging from mass arrests and political persecution to attacks on minorities, academics, and women leaders — reflect a deliberate and systematic strategy rather than isolated incidents. According to the Awami League, Bangladeshi citizens are now living under a climate of fear, where justice is reserved for a privileged few and repression has become routine.

“The current regime under Yunus is not neutral or reform-oriented; it is one of vengeance and authoritarian control,” the party said in a statement. The Awami League highlighted a recent spike in political harassment, noting that over 1,800 party leaders and activists were arrested within a single 24-hour period last week. These arrests, the party claimed, are rarely linked to legitimate legal violations and are part of an ongoing campaign to intimidate political opposition and consolidate power.

The party also raised alarm over escalating attacks on minority communities. Hindu temples and religious idols have been repeatedly targeted, especially during key religious observances such as Mahalaya. In Gazipur, temples were vandalized and idols smashed, while in Habiganj, the tragic death of young Hindu man Kritish Dash, who went missing and was later found dead, exemplifies the deadly consequences of government inaction. The Awami League asserted that authorities frequently turn a blind eye, allowing attackers to operate with impunity.

In addition, Islamist-backed violence has reportedly increased under Yunus’s tenure. Jamaat-e-Islami has allegedly carried out attacks on Sunni Imams, shrines, and mausoleums, including grave desecrations. In Comilla, four shrines were reportedly vandalized, attacked with loudspeakers, and set on fire, yet no arrests have been made, the party stated.

Child safety is another area of concern. According to the Awami League, in the first seven months of 2025 alone, over 300 girls and 30 boys have fallen victim to sexual abuse and exploitation. The party emphasized that these numbers are not mere statistics but evidence of a human rights crisis with lasting physical and psychological effects on young victims.

The Awami League concluded that the Yunus-led administration is systematically dismantling human rights, justice, and social harmony, prioritizing control over the protection and welfare of citizens. “What emerges is not a government safeguarding its people, but one undermining democracy and fundamental freedoms in the name of authority,” the party said.