Bangladesh safety forces kill two, sparking rights issues

Bangladesh has been struggling to manage crime since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was compelled from energy in August 2024 by a mass rebellion in opposition to her iron-fisted rule. File
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

Bangladeshi safety forces killed two males Thursday (February 20, 2025) in a crackdown on rising violent crime, a spokesman mentioned, rejecting fears the deaths appeared to reflect earlier infamous techniques of extra-judicial killings.

Sami-Ud-Dowla Chowdhury, spokesman for the safety forces, mentioned two males have been killed within the early hours of Thursday morning (February 20, 2025) after they shot at officers making an attempt to arrest them in connection to a spate of robberies.

“The perpetrators opened hearth from the roof of a single-story constructing, prompting the staff to retaliate,” the safety forces mentioned in an announcement, saying officers “recovered two lifeless our bodies” in addition to machetes and a pistol. 5 different males have been arrested.

“They have been culprits,” Mr. Chowdhury mentioned.

Bangladesh has been struggling to manage crime since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was compelled from energy in August 2024 by a mass rebellion in opposition to her iron-fisted rule.

Below her watch, Bangladeshi regulation enforcement companies confronted accusations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

Police in Dhaka mentioned the variety of robberies has doubled since January final 12 months.

Throughout Ms. Hasina’s rule, the dreaded paramilitary Fast Motion Battalion (RAB) carried out scores of killings. The drive was slapped with U.S. sanctions in 2021, after which extrajudicial killings stopped.

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a number one Bangladeshi human rights organisation, warned in opposition to heavy-handed techniques.

“We urge regulation enforcement companies to conduct raids with warning to keep away from lack of lives,” Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir informed AFP.

“During the last 20 years, we now have witnessed 1000’s of extrajudicial killings, which had zero affect on the law-and-order scenario. Extreme drive has achieved nothing,” he mentioned.

Safety forces named the 2 males killed as Miraz Hossain (25), and Mohammed Jummon (26).

“The navy might have arrested them and locked them up,” Hossain’s mom, Surma Begum, informed AFP. “Why did they kill him?”

Resident Rahima Begum noticed round a dozen navy autos on the scene, and residents have been instructed to close their doorways and keep inside.

“We heard them asking the boys to give up, however they didn’t,” Ms. Begum mentioned.