HRSS: 73 killed in political violence in nine months, 187 dead in mob violence

In the first nine months of this year, 73 people were killed in 1,013 incidents of political violence in the country, and 6,473 people were injured in those incidents. In the same period, 187 people were killed in 398 incidents of mob violence and lynching. In addition, 95 prisoners died in jail, and 518 journalists faced torture and harassment.

These figures appear in the Human Rights Support Society's (HRSS) human rights monitoring report for January-September 2026. The report was prepared by reviewing news published in 16 national dailies as well as the organisation's own data and investigative reports. It was published on Monday.

The report says 91 percent of the political violence occurred in internal feuds within the BNP and in clashes between the BNP and other political parties. In 342 incidents of BNP internal feuding, 40 people were killed and 2,632 injured. In 321 BNP-Jamaat clashes, 11 people were killed and 2,190 injured.

In 402 violent incidents centred on the 13th national parliamentary election and the upcoming local government elections, 13 people were killed and 2,623 injured. In the pre- and post-election period, there were also attacks, vandalism, looting and arson at more than six hundred businesses, homes and election offices.

Of the 73 people killed in political violence, 46 belonged to the BNP, 8 to Jamaat and 6 to the Awami League. The political identity of 12 others is unknown, or they were members of other parties.

The report further says that in the past nine months, 2,404 women and girls faced abuse. Among them, 657 were raped, and 29 were killed after rape. In the same period, 1,810 children faced abuse, of whom at least 494 lost their lives.

In 582 incidents of worker abuse, 145 workers were killed and 1,263 injured. Another 390 workers died in accidents caused by unhealthy workplace environments and a lack of safety equipment.

In 56 attacks on minority communities, 62 people were injured, and there were attacks and vandalism at 21 temples, 20 idols and 47 homes, the report said.

In BSF attacks on the India-Bangladesh border, 13 people were killed and 39 injured. The organisation also reported 491 bodies recovered in 465 killing incidents from rivers, canals, jungles and abandoned places. Seventeen people died in incidents involving custody, torture, shootings and alleged gunfights involving law enforcement agencies. The report also mentioned at least one enforced disappearance and one forcible abduction during this period.

In 288 incidents of torture and harassment against journalists, 297 were injured, 87 were assaulted and 77 faced threats. Twenty journalists were detained. In addition, in 58 incidents of obstruction at rallies and gatherings, 439 people were injured and 46 detained.

In more than 270 cases against leaders and activists of various political parties, 5,809 people were named, while 32,433 people were accused as unnamed suspects.

HRSS Executive Director Ijajul Islam said coordinated initiatives at all levels of the state and society are needed to improve the human rights situation, establish the rule of law and strengthen the democratic process. He called for effective steps to prevent political and electoral violence, mob violence, torture of journalists, abuse of women and children, and deaths in custody and in prison.

The picture painted by the report suggests that even after the election has passed, there is still no clear sign of violence declining. The report raises the question before observers that without internal discipline within political parties and an effective role by law enforcement agencies, stopping this trend will be difficult.