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{{Main|Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini}}
{{Main|Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini}}
{{See also|1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency|1974 Ramna massacre}}
{{See also|1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency|1974 Ramna massacre}}
The Rakkhi Bahini committed various [[human rights abuses]], including [[extrajudicial killing]],<ref name="Human Rights Watch" /><ref name="amardeshonline" /><ref name=":3">{{cite book|last1=Fair|first1=Christine C.|last2=Riaz|first2=Ali|title=Political Islam and Governance in Bangladesh|date=2010|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1136926242|pages=30–31|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SpFaBwAAQBAJ&q=Rape+by+Rakkhi+Bahini&pg=PA30|access-date=19 June 2016}}</ref> [[Forced disappearance in Bangladesh|forced disappearances]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Moudud |author-link=Moudud Ahmed |year=1984 |orig-year=First published 1983 |title=Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |page=57 |isbn=3-515-04266-0}}</ref> [[death squads|shooting by death squads]],<ref name=":5">{{cite news |last1=Chowdhury |first1=Atif |date=18 February 2013 |title=Bangladesh: Baptism By Fire |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/atif-choudhury/bangladesh-no-justice-wit_b_4455782.html |newspaper=[[Huffington Post]] |access-date=23 June 2016}}</ref> and [[rape]].<ref name=":3" /> [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]] claims that over 60,000 of its members were killed.<ref name=Anwar-ul-Alam /> The most conservative estimates put the death toll at over 2000.<ref name=":3"/> [[Syed Badrul Ahsan]] dismisses these claims as "myths."<ref name=":0" />
{{Empty section|date=August 2024}}

[[Anthony Mascarenhas]] describes the activities of Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini in his book ''Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood,'' he writes:

<blockquote>The Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini, which roughly translated means National Security Force, was an elite para-military force whose members had to take oaths of personal loyalty to Mujib. Despite its high-sounding name, it was a sort of private army of bully boys not far removed from Nazi [[Brown shirts]].<ref name="Mascarenhas1986p37"/></blockquote>

Mascarenhas adds that by the end of 1973 the total of politically motivated murders in Bangladesh had crossed the 2000 mark. The victims included some members of Parliament and many of the murders were resulted of intra-party conflicts within [[Awami League]].<ref name="Mascarenhas"/>

Within three years, political killings by Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini reached about 30,000.<ref name="Mascarenhas"/> This included numerous [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]] members.<ref name="Mascarenhas" />

Even the capital Dhaka was not immune to the violence. An unofficial curfew was introduced after midnight. Almost every rickshaw, taxi and private car was checked and searched by Rokkhi Bahini personnel.<ref name="Mascarenhas"/>

===1974 Ramna massacre===
{{main|1974 Ramna massacre}}

Jasad, frequently tortured by JRB, decided to hold a rally on 17 March at [[Paltan]]. They also made a plan to surround the residence of Home Minister [[Muhammad Mansur Ali]] on the same day after the rally.<ref name="Mascarenhas"/>

On 17 March 1975, agitated Jasad supporters tried to set up a barricade in front of the residence of the Home Minister [[Muhammad Mansur Ali]] after the rally. But prepared JRB personnel started firing indiscriminately upon the crowd leaving several people dead on the spot.<ref name="Mascarenhas"/>

A notable occurrence occurred on 17 March 1975. Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini set up fire on the headquarters of JASAD on 14 March 1975. JASAD decided to form a rally towards Home Minister Mansoor Ali's house and surround it as a counter to that incident on 17 March.<ref name="Mascarenhas" />

The rally that started from Paltan was forwarding to the Home Minister's house but the Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini opened brush-fire and at least 50 JASAD activists were killed on the spot.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/03/17/136542|script-title=bn:জাসদের মিছিলে রক্ষীবাহিনীর গুলিতে নিহত ৫০|work=Amar Desh |language=bn |access-date=2015-03-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012024/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/03/17/136542|archive-date=19 April 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

During the regime of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman thousands of youths were killed due to the suspicion of having connection with JASAD by Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.<ref name="amardeshonline">{{cite news|url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/01/15/63217|date=16 January 2011|newspaper=Amar Desh|script-title=bn:রক্ষীবাহিনীর নৃশংসতা মধ্যযুগীয় বর্বরতাকেও হার মানিয়েছিল|language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117040756/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/01/15/63217|archive-date=17 January 2011}}</ref>

Among them a leader of Bangladesh Krishok League central committee and a teacher of Nawabganj High School Siddiqur Rahman Khan was killed on 10 October 1972. On 17 September 1973 JASAD Student's League leader Bablu, Robi, Ebadat Ali, Motaleb, Kalu and many other were killed in daylight by Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.<ref name="amardeshonline" />

Notable victims include: General Secretary of City College Students' Union Jahangir, student of Jahangir Nagar University Shah Borhan Uddin Rokon, student of BUET Nikhil Chandra Saha; Narshingdi JASAD leader Alauddin; JASAD leader from Gazipur Akram, Joinal, Shamsu, Badal, Anwar; Manikganj JASAD leader Shahadat Hossain Badal, Delwar Hossain Haraj, Abdul Awal Naju, Najim; activists from Jamalpur Giasuddin Master; JASAD activist Abdur Rashid, Hasu Miah; leader from Mymensingh Masuduzzaman, Abdul Jabbar; Madaripur JASAD activist Jahngir, Saddam, Ali Hosen, Mofijur; Faridpur's Kamaluzzaman, Abdul Hakim; Moniddin Ahmed, Salam Master, Rafique Uddin from Razshahi; Ata, Ranju, Manik Das Gupta, Tota, Colonel Rana, Khalil, Rajjak of Bagura; Natore's JASAD leader Nasiruddin; leader from Pabna Ashfaqur Rahman Kalu.<ref name="amardeshonline" />

[[Siraj Sikder]] was a freedom fighter.<ref name="prothom-alo">{{cite news |script-title=bn:বিপ্লবীদের ঝাপসা স্মৃতি |trans-title=Revolutionaries Fuzzy Memory |url=http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/news/120643 |newspaper=Prothom Alo |language=bn |date=2011-01-04 |access-date=23 November 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305023704/http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/news/120643 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was educated in EPUET, now which is known as [[Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology|BUET]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2012-07-31 |script-title=bn:বুয়েট বাঁচান |trans-title=Save Technology |url=http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/news/278117 |newspaper=Prothom Alo |language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804233607/http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/news/278117 |archive-date=2012-08-04 }}</ref> After the liberation war he started his mission to establish a socialist society. During the liberation war on 3 June he established the political party ''Purba Bangla Sharbahara Party''. On the first congress of the party he was elected as the party's president on 14 January 1972.<ref name="prothom-alo" /> He started working as the President of the party. In 1973, he was elected as the President of an alliance of eleven peoples' organization named as ''Purba Banglar Jatyo Mukti Front'' (National Liberation Front of East Bengal). But analyzing political situation of the country which was named as "One Party Democracy" by Guardian and the increasing torture over his party members forced him to choose the way of revolution.<ref name="prothom-alo" />

On 28 December 1974, the government announced the first ever state of emergency in the history of Bangladesh to arrest all the terrorists and opposition leaders.<ref name="prothom-alo" /> From then Sikder was being treated as an outlaw by the law and enforcement forces. He went underground after the promulgation of emergency.<ref name=Mascarenhas /> A Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini commander later denied that the murder of Sikder was committed by his force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bd-pratidin.com/?view=details&archiev=yes&arch_date=07-11-2012&type=gold&data=International&pub_no=905&cat_id=1&menu_id=7&news_type_id=1&index=3.|title=Bangladesh Pratidin - Highest Circulated Newspaper|work=বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন|access-date=2015-03-02}}</ref>

Aruna Sen<ref name="thedailystar">{{cite news |date=2007-01-06 |title=Comrade Aruna Sen passes away |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/01/06/d70106061082.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref> the wife of politician Shanti Sen, was detained by the Jatiya Rokkhi Bahini, along with her relative Chanchal Sen.<ref name=":6">{{cite news|title=Justice Debesh Bhattacharya protected citizens' rights|url=http://newagebd.net/156659/justice-debesh-bhattacharya-protected-citizens-rights/|access-date=25 June 2016|agency=[[The New Age]]|issue=1|publisher=[[The New Age]]|date=11 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813014114/https://newagebd.net/156659/justice-debesh-bhattacharya-protected-citizens-rights/ |archive-date=13 August 2016}}</ref> She was subjected to torture while in captivity.<ref name="Portraits">{{cite book|title=Portraits of repression and anarchy : eras of Mujib & Hasina : dark chapters in Bangladesh's history.|publisher=E-Forum|location=Dhaka, Bangladesh|page=27|oclc=53019306}}</ref> Aruna Sen published a statement regarding her captivity in the 17 March edition of Weekly Holiday and in the June edition of Monthly Sangskriti in 1974. After Aruna Sen was detained, a writ was filed at Supreme Court. The court asked Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini to present her in front of the court and prove her detention legal. They presented her but failed to support the legality of the detention.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawcommissionbangladesh.org/reports/43.pdf |title=The Law Commission |publisher=Lawcommissionbangladesh.org |access-date=2015-03-02}}</ref>

Shahjahan was an 18-year-old boy from what is now [[Naria Upazila]] of Faridpur District. He was arrested in [[Dhaka]] on 28 December 1973 and handed over to the Rakkhi Bahini at their request. He was not seen again after 2 January 1974, when his brother said he saw him in custody at Rakkhi Bahini headquarters. His brother petitioned the court for a writ of ''habeas corpus'', challenging the legality of Shahjahan's detention. The Rakkhi Bahini responded that Shahjahan had escaped on 29 December, so was not in detention and could not be brought to the court.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Moudud |author-link=Moudud Ahmed |year=1984 |orig-year=First published 1983 |title=Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |pages=56–57 |isbn=3-515-04266-0}}</ref> On cross examination, officers said the organization followed no regulations or procedure. They kept no records of their searches, seizures, arrests, or other activities. Former Prime Minister [[Moudud Ahmed]] believes that because Shahjahan allegedly belonged to the student wing of the [[Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal]], an opposition political party, the Rakkhi Bahini killed him and secretly disposed of his body. Without evidence, however, the Rakkhi Bahini could not be held to account.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Moudud |author-link=Moudud Ahmed |year=1984 |orig-year=First published 1983 |title=Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |page=59 |isbn=3-515-04266-0}}</ref>

The court held that the Rakkhi Bahini version of events was "a pure concoction" that "demonstrates complete disregard of the law of the country."<ref>{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Moudud |author-link=Moudud Ahmed |year=1984 |orig-year=First published 1983 |title=Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |pages=57–58 |isbn=3-515-04266-0}}</ref> In May 1974, Justice [[Debesh Bhattacharya]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Moudud |author-link=Moudud Ahmed |year=1984 |orig-year=First published 1983 |title=Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |page=58 |isbn=3-515-04266-0}}</ref> condemned the organization in his verdict, stating:
{{blockquote|The irregular and very unsatisfactory manner of the handling of the matter by the Rakkhi Bahini has created a situation that urgently calls for an effective action on the part of the authorities to clear the cloud and create a sense of assurance in the mind of the people.<ref name="Ahmed1984p59-60" />}}

The court urged the government to hold an enquiry into the whereabouts of Shahjahan, but none was ever undertaken.<ref name="Ahmed1984p59-60">{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Moudud |author-link=Moudud Ahmed |year=1984 |orig-year=First published 1983 |title=Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |pages=59–60 |isbn=3-515-04266-0}}</ref>

Ayesha Faiz<ref name="kalerkantho">{{cite news |date=2012-08-03 |script-title=bn:আমার ছেলেদের লেখক হতে আলাদা কোনো পরিবেশ লাগেনি |language=bn |newspaper=Kaler Kantho |url=http://www.kalerkantho.com/index.php?view=details&type=gold&data=Antivirus&pub_no=963&cat_id=1&menu_id=152&news_type_id=1&index=4 |access-date=25 February 2013 |archive-date=19 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419015124/http://www.kalerkantho.com/index.php?view=details&type=gold&data=Antivirus&pub_no=963&cat_id=1&menu_id=152&news_type_id=1&index=4 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is the widow of [[Faizur Rahman (police officer)|Faizur Rahman]] and the mother of novelists [[Humayun Ahmed]] and [[Muhammad Zafar Iqbal]]. A house in Babar Road of Mohammadpur was allotted to her by the government for her husband.<ref name="amardeshonline_b">{{cite news |script-title=bn:পড়বে না তাঁর পায়ের চিহ্ন |language=bn |work=Amar Desh |url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/weekly_news/2012/08/04/8386 |url-status=dead |access-date=2015-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145814/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/weekly_news/2012/08/04/8386 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> But just after three days she was kicked out of the house with her family by a Subedar Major of Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.<ref name="kalerkantho" /> She detailed the incident in her biography ''Jibon Je Rokom'' (''Life as it is'').<ref name="amarboi">{{cite web |script-title=bn:জীবন যে রকম - আয়েশা ফয়েজ |url=http://www.amarboi.com/2012/01/jibon-je-rokom-by-ayesha-faiz.html |work=amarboi.com |language=bn}}</ref> Ayesha Faiz left the home with her children. She later recalled: "Once I was made refugee by the Pakistan Army of occupation. The second time it was done by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.


==Second revolution==
==Second revolution==

Revision as of 17:57, 30 August 2024

Criticism of Bangladesh Awami League here refers to criticism directed against incidents related to, and certain activities of a Bangladeshi political party named Bangladesh Awami League and all political organizations connected with it, including the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the Jubo League, the Swechchhasebak League, etc., as well as other bodies with which Awami League is in fact or allegedly involved, directly or indirectly, whether in power or not।[1] Some notable examples are the murder of Abrar Fahad, Padma Bridge graft scandal, the Murder of Biswajit Das, the Murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, the Bangladesh Rifles revolt, the 2013 Shapla Square protests, the Bangladesh quota reform movement, the Violence of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the S Alam Group scandal, the Logi Boitha Movement, disputed elections in 2009, 2014 and 2018, corruption at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, etc.[2]

Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini

Main article: Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini
See also: 1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency and 1974 Ramna massacre

The Rakkhi Bahini committed various human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killing,[3][4][5] forced disappearances,[6] shooting by death squads,[7] and rape.[5] Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal claims that over 60,000 of its members were killed.[8] The most conservative estimates put the death toll at over 2000.[5] Syed Badrul Ahsan dismisses these claims as "myths."[9]

Anthony Mascarenhas describes the activities of Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini in his book Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood, he writes:

The Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini, which roughly translated means National Security Force, was an elite para-military force whose members had to take oaths of personal loyalty to Mujib. Despite its high-sounding name, it was a sort of private army of bully boys not far removed from Nazi Brown shirts.[10]

Mascarenhas adds that by the end of 1973 the total of politically motivated murders in Bangladesh had crossed the 2000 mark. The victims included some members of Parliament and many of the murders were resulted of intra-party conflicts within Awami League.[11]

Within three years, political killings by Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini reached about 30,000.[11] This included numerous Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal members.[11]

Even the capital Dhaka was not immune to the violence. An unofficial curfew was introduced after midnight. Almost every rickshaw, taxi and private car was checked and searched by Rokkhi Bahini personnel.[11]

1974 Ramna massacre

Main article: 1974 Ramna massacre

Jasad, frequently tortured by JRB, decided to hold a rally on 17 March at Paltan. They also made a plan to surround the residence of Home Minister Muhammad Mansur Ali on the same day after the rally.[11]

On 17 March 1975, agitated Jasad supporters tried to set up a barricade in front of the residence of the Home Minister Muhammad Mansur Ali after the rally. But prepared JRB personnel started firing indiscriminately upon the crowd leaving several people dead on the spot.[11]

A notable occurrence occurred on 17 March 1975. Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini set up fire on the headquarters of JASAD on 14 March 1975. JASAD decided to form a rally towards Home Minister Mansoor Ali's house and surround it as a counter to that incident on 17 March.[11]

The rally that started from Paltan was forwarding to the Home Minister's house but the Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini opened brush-fire and at least 50 JASAD activists were killed on the spot.[12]

During the regime of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman thousands of youths were killed due to the suspicion of having connection with JASAD by Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.[4]

Among them a leader of Bangladesh Krishok League central committee and a teacher of Nawabganj High School Siddiqur Rahman Khan was killed on 10 October 1972. On 17 September 1973 JASAD Student's League leader Bablu, Robi, Ebadat Ali, Motaleb, Kalu and many other were killed in daylight by Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.[4]

Notable victims include: General Secretary of City College Students' Union Jahangir, student of Jahangir Nagar University Shah Borhan Uddin Rokon, student of BUET Nikhil Chandra Saha; Narshingdi JASAD leader Alauddin; JASAD leader from Gazipur Akram, Joinal, Shamsu, Badal, Anwar; Manikganj JASAD leader Shahadat Hossain Badal, Delwar Hossain Haraj, Abdul Awal Naju, Najim; activists from Jamalpur Giasuddin Master; JASAD activist Abdur Rashid, Hasu Miah; leader from Mymensingh Masuduzzaman, Abdul Jabbar; Madaripur JASAD activist Jahngir, Saddam, Ali Hosen, Mofijur; Faridpur's Kamaluzzaman, Abdul Hakim; Moniddin Ahmed, Salam Master, Rafique Uddin from Razshahi; Ata, Ranju, Manik Das Gupta, Tota, Colonel Rana, Khalil, Rajjak of Bagura; Natore's JASAD leader Nasiruddin; leader from Pabna Ashfaqur Rahman Kalu.[4]

Siraj Sikder was a freedom fighter.[13] He was educated in EPUET, now which is known as BUET.[14] After the liberation war he started his mission to establish a socialist society. During the liberation war on 3 June he established the political party Purba Bangla Sharbahara Party. On the first congress of the party he was elected as the party's president on 14 January 1972.[13] He started working as the President of the party. In 1973, he was elected as the President of an alliance of eleven peoples' organization named as Purba Banglar Jatyo Mukti Front (National Liberation Front of East Bengal). But analyzing political situation of the country which was named as "One Party Democracy" by Guardian and the increasing torture over his party members forced him to choose the way of revolution.[13]

On 28 December 1974, the government announced the first ever state of emergency in the history of Bangladesh to arrest all the terrorists and opposition leaders.[13] From then Sikder was being treated as an outlaw by the law and enforcement forces. He went underground after the promulgation of emergency.[11] A Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini commander later denied that the murder of Sikder was committed by his force.[15]

Aruna Sen[16] the wife of politician Shanti Sen, was detained by the Jatiya Rokkhi Bahini, along with her relative Chanchal Sen.[17] She was subjected to torture while in captivity.[18] Aruna Sen published a statement regarding her captivity in the 17 March edition of Weekly Holiday and in the June edition of Monthly Sangskriti in 1974. After Aruna Sen was detained, a writ was filed at Supreme Court. The court asked Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini to present her in front of the court and prove her detention legal. They presented her but failed to support the legality of the detention.[17][19]

Shahjahan was an 18-year-old boy from what is now Naria Upazila of Faridpur District. He was arrested in Dhaka on 28 December 1973 and handed over to the Rakkhi Bahini at their request. He was not seen again after 2 January 1974, when his brother said he saw him in custody at Rakkhi Bahini headquarters. His brother petitioned the court for a writ of habeas corpus, challenging the legality of Shahjahan's detention. The Rakkhi Bahini responded that Shahjahan had escaped on 29 December, so was not in detention and could not be brought to the court.[20] On cross examination, officers said the organization followed no regulations or procedure. They kept no records of their searches, seizures, arrests, or other activities. Former Prime Minister Moudud Ahmed believes that because Shahjahan allegedly belonged to the student wing of the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, an opposition political party, the Rakkhi Bahini killed him and secretly disposed of his body. Without evidence, however, the Rakkhi Bahini could not be held to account.[21]

The court held that the Rakkhi Bahini version of events was "a pure concoction" that "demonstrates complete disregard of the law of the country."[22] In May 1974, Justice Debesh Bhattacharya,[23] condemned the organization in his verdict, stating:

The irregular and very unsatisfactory manner of the handling of the matter by the Rakkhi Bahini has created a situation that urgently calls for an effective action on the part of the authorities to clear the cloud and create a sense of assurance in the mind of the people.[24]

The court urged the government to hold an enquiry into the whereabouts of Shahjahan, but none was ever undertaken.[24]

Ayesha Faiz[25] is the widow of Faizur Rahman and the mother of novelists Humayun Ahmed and Muhammad Zafar Iqbal. A house in Babar Road of Mohammadpur was allotted to her by the government for her husband.[26] But just after three days she was kicked out of the house with her family by a Subedar Major of Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.[25] She detailed the incident in her biography Jibon Je Rokom (Life as it is).[27] Ayesha Faiz left the home with her children. She later recalled: "Once I was made refugee by the Pakistan Army of occupation. The second time it was done by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini.

Second revolution

Main articles: Second Revolution (Bangladesh) and Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League

Bangladesh Rifles revolt

Main article: Bangladesh Rifles revolt

The 2009 Bangladesh Rifles Revolt was a mutiny staged on 25 and 26 February 2009 in Dhaka by a section of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), a paramilitary force mainly tasked with guarding the borders of Bangladesh. The rebelling BDR soldiers took over the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, killing BDR director-general Shakil Ahmed along with 56 other army officers and 17 civilians. They also fired on civilians, held many of their officers and their families hostage, vandalised property and looted valuables.[28] By the second day, unrest had spread to 12 other towns and cities.[29][30] The mutiny ended as the mutineers surrendered their arms and released the hostages[31] after a series of discussions and negotiations with the government.[32] The Daily Star commended “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sagacious handling of the situation which resulted in the prevention of a further bloodbath".[33][34][35]

Massacre in the 2013 Shapla Square protests

Main article: 2013 Shapla Square protests

2013 Shapla Square protests also known as Operation Shapla or Operation Flash Out by security forces[36] refers to the protests, and subsequent shootings, of 5 and 6 May 2013 at Shapla Square located in the Motijheel district, the main financial area of Dhaka, Bangladesh.[37] The protests were organized by the Islamist advocacy group, Hefazat-e Islam, who were demanding the enactment of a blasphemy law.[37][38][39] The government responded to the protests by cracking down on the protesters using a combined force drawn from the police, Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters out of Shapla Square.[40][41][42][43]

Murder of Abrar Fahad

Main article: Murder of Abrar Fahad
Protest against the killing of BUET student Abrar Fahad

'Abrar Fahad was a second-year student in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He was brutally tortured and killed inside BUET's Sher-e-Bangla Hall by leaders associated with BUET's Chhatra League, a student political organization. The incident sparked national outrage and led to protests against campus violence. Abrar's murderers were later sentenced to death following a highly publicized trial.[44][45] An autopsy report later confirmed that Fahad died as a result of severe blunt force trauma.[46][47]

Murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi

Main article: Murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi

The murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi is the unsolved double murder case of two well-known, married Bangladeshi journalists who were stabbed to death.[48][49][50][51][52][53] The case is still open, and DNA testing indicates that the murder may be the work of two men.[54] The couple's murder received high-level political attention and widespread media coverage in Bangladesh, and also attracted German interest as Sarowar had lived in Germany and worked as a journalist for Deutsche Welle. The case was also closely watched by journalists and international press freedom organisations.[49][55][56][57] The couple's murder furthermore unified a number of organisations representing Bangladeshi journalists that had previously been separate.[58] A representative of the family said, "In the past 25 years, this has been the most talked/written about, prioritized case in Bangladesh."[59][60] A demonstration was called in 2017 for the fifth anniversary of the murder to demand the release of the investigation report.[61]

Murder of Biswajit Das

Main article: Murder of Biswajit Das

Biswajit Das was a 24-year-old tailor in Dhaka, Bangladesh, who was murdered on 9 December 2012 by members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the governing Awami League party.[62] On that day there was a nationwide road blockade, called by the opposition 18 Party Alliance. That morning, Das was on his way to his shop, Amantron Tailors at Shankhari Bazaar in Old Dhaka, when one or more small bombs exploded near an anti-blockade procession of BCL activists from Jagannath University.[63][64][65] A group of them mistook Das for an opposition supporter and chased him from near Bahadur Shah Park into a nearby building.[64] They attacked him with machetes, iron bars, and hockey sticks.[63] Das attempted to escape, but fell down at Shankhari Bazar Road. A rickshaw-puller took Das to Mitford Hospital, where he died shortly after from his wounds.[64]

Padma Bridge graft scandal

Main article: Padma Bridge graft scandal

The Padma Bridge graft scandal was a political scandal in Bangladesh in 2016 and 2017, involving the Bangladesh Awami League and the Padma Bridge, a 6.15-kilometer (3.82 mi) road-rail bridge across the Padma River and Bangladesh's longest bridge.

The World Bank were to have financed the project with ৳11,367 crore (US$1.2 billion) of credit, but they pulled out citing corruption concerns, specifically that Canadian construction company SNC-Lavalin had bribed a Bangladeshi official in exchange for a construction contract.[66]

Two SNC-Lavalin executives were charged in Canada, but after the court excluded wiretap evidence the prosecution withdrew and the court dismissed the case.[67][9]

July massacre

Main article: July massacre
Further information: 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement and Non-cooperation movement (2024)

The quota reform movement in Bangladesh was organized in order to demand a reduction of quotas for government jobs and the introduction of recruitment based on merit.[68][69][70] There have been three agitations for quota reforms in Bangladesh. So far, the university and college students have generally expressed themselves in favor of this movement, while Awami League, the ruling government, Chhatra League and like-minded organisations oppose the proposed changes.[71][72]

A first quota reform movement took place in 2013. Following the 2018 movement, a circular was issued which adressed the demands, but it was subsequently declared invalid by the Supreme Court, leading to a restart of the movement in 2024. On each occasion, Bangladesh Police and Chhatra League attacked the students with lethal force.[73][74][75]

Aynaghar

Main article: Aynaghar

Aynaghar is a clandestine detention facility operated by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the intelligence branch of Bangladesh's armed forces. Between 2009 and 2021, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, individuals who expressed dissent or criticism against the Awami League government were secretly apprehended and subjected to torture within its confines.

Numerous opposition leaders and activists vanished during Sheikh Hasina's tenure. Their locations remain undisclosed. Even the names of military personnel appear on the list of people who have disappeared. Aynaghar, in essence, serves as a covert prison or detention camp managed by the intelligence agencies.[76][77]

Rooppur pillow scandal

Main article: Rooppur pillow scandal

Bangladesh share market scam

Main article: 2011 Bangladesh share market scam

Hallmark-Sonali Bank Loan Scam

Main article: Hallmark-Sonali Bank Loan Scam

See also

References

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