Bangladesh

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recorded an "alarming rise" in Rohingya deaths at sea in 2022, with at least 348 reported missing or dead. Over 3500 Rohingya fled across the Andaman Sea or Bay of Bengal last year, mostly from Myanmar or Bangladesh, up from 700 in 2021. UNHCR has called for a full regional response and investigation into why Rohingya are fleeing. A January Human Rights Watch report further alleges Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are subject to extortion, harassment, and wrongful arrest by police. Myanmar is currently on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice over the military crackdown in 2017 that saw over a million (mostly Muslim Rohingya) flee to Bangladesh.

Migration Refugees Personal Integrity and Security Social Group Equality

Thousands of protesters gathered in Dhaka on 10 December in a demonstration organized by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down in favour of new elections under a caretaker government. Reports of intimidation and violence were noted, and two top BNP leaders and over 500 supporters were arrested. The protesters called attention to the cost-of-living crisis, corruption and the increasing suppression of dissent; triggered in part by recent clashes (and arrests) between BNP activists and leaders on 7 December which led to at least one death and 60 injured. Human rights activists have criticized the escalated repression of peaceful protests by Bangladeshi authorities given the past month's events.

Protests Sheikh Hasina

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is mobilizing against the ruling Awami League (AL) in preparation for the parliamentary elections next year. The BNP has held public rallies in response to the recent economic crisis in the country and has accused the AL government of election rigging and voter fraud in the last two general elections. As a response, there has been a significant increase in repression by the authorities over the past few weeks, who have arrested many political activists at these opposition-led rallies. This has raised concerns about a significant increase in the level of political violence and harassment, something that has marred previous electoral seasons. In August, BNP rallies were attacked in multiple districts, and local party offices and homes of BNP leaders were vandalized. These attacks, with the help of police in many cases, appear to be aimed at creating fear in the opposition camp.

Protests Freedom of Expression Personal Integrity and Security Freedom of Association and Assembly Police Political Violence

Ahead of the 2023 parliamentary elections, violent clashes at political rallies have escalated amid Bangladesh's cost-of-living crisis. Bangladeshi authorities are accused of voter intimidation as well as carrying out mass arrests and raids of opposition supporters affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party - undermining their right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. While questions remain as to the instigators of the violence, Human Rights Watch notes that those affiliated with the ruling Awami League "appear to have impunity" for attacks. 

Elections Freedom of Association and Assembly Electoral Violence