A steady rise in the mysterious deaths of Awami League activists in the prisons of Bangladesh

Honourable leaders and guardians of the international community,

We are compelled to draw your urgent and compassionate attention to a grave human rights crisis unfolding in Bangladesh. In recent months, reports have surfaced of a steady rise in mysterious deaths of political prisoners being detained without trial, many arrested without warrants or on falsified charges. These individuals, whose only alleged crime is their political affiliation with the Bangladesh Awami League, have found themselves subjected to the most harrowing circumstances behind prison walls.

The world cannot stand silent in the face of such injustice and inhumanity. The mysterious deaths of political prisoners in custody are not isolated incidents but rather part of a disturbing pattern that demands immediate global scrutiny and intervention. Each unexplained death is not only a tragedy for the families involved, but a direct affront to the universal principles of justice and human rights to which we all aspire.

After the violent political change in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, the Interim Government took office on August 8, 2024, under the leadership of Dr. Yunus. Since the beginning of taking office, law and order have deteriorated drastically across Bangladesh. Murder, violence, and extortion have spread widely through allied mobs. The Interim Government has completely failed or intentionally overlooked controlling all these crimes. Among them, 20 Awami League leaders died suspiciously while in prison between September 8, 2024, and June 15, 2025 (list attached). They were physically healthy before their arrest and during controlled family visitations to prisons. After they died in prison, they have sometimes been shown dead in prison hospitals, or someone has been reported as a suicide.

It is very important to know the reason behind all these unusual deaths, and if anyone is involved in these deaths, they need to be brought to justice.

We urge the international community—rights defenders, world leaders, and the conscience of humanity—to stand in solidarity with those unjustly imprisoned and silenced. It is imperative that independent investigations be launched and that the current Interim Government of Dr. Yunus in Bangladesh be held accountable for its obligations under international human rights law. The time for collective action and unequivocal condemnation is now, to uphold the sanctity of life and the ideals of justice.

GLOBAL CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

List of Deaths of Political Prisoners:

1. Elahi Sikdar (25), Gopalganj District Jail, 08/09/2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/man-dies-jail-custody-3697841
2. Alimujjaman Chowdhury (58), Gopalganj District Jail, 13/10/2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/man-accused-swechchasebak-dal-leader-murder-dies-gopalganj-jail-3727431
3. Shahidul Islam Ratan (58), Bogura District Jail, 11/11/2024,  https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/al-leader-dies-bogura-prison-990956
4. Abdul Latif (67), Bogura District Jail, 25/11/2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/four-al-leader-died-bogura-jail-custody-last-one-month-3771951
5. Shahadat Alam Jhunu (57), Bogura District Jail, 26/11/2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/bogura-al-leader-jhunu-dies-jail-custody-3762596
6. Abdul Matin Mithu (65), Bogura District Jail, 09/12/2024, https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/local-news/7cc0d8m80c
7. Ataur Rahman Angur (55), Sirajganj District Jail, 10/12/2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/al-leader-dies-sirajganj-jail-custody-3772701
8. Nitya Sarkar (50), Manikganj District Jail, 04/01/2025, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/carpenter-accused-sabotage-case-dies-3792011
9. Sheikh Jahirul Islam Zahir (46), Gazipur District Jail, 10/01/2025, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/sramik-league-leader-dies-gazipur-jail-3796526
10. Mominur Islam (50), Nilphamari District Jail, 14/01/2025, https://en.bddigest.com/another-awami-league-leader-dies-in-prison-raising-questions/
11. Akhtar Shikdar (44), Khulna District Jail, 09/02/2025, https://en.bddigest.com/another-awami-league-leader-dies-in-custody/
12. Abdur Razzak (60), Dhaka Central Jail, 13/02/2025, https://www.observerbd.com/news/512176
13. Siddiq Hossain Molla (45), Naogaon District Jail, 17/02/2025, https://en.bddigest.com/awami-league-leader-dies-in-custody-amid-allegations-of-torture/
14. Emdadul Haque Bhutto (51), Bogura District Jail, 11/03/2025, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/fifth-al-leader-dies-bogura-jail-custody-3845006
15. Sujit Chandra De (40), 02/04/2025, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/accused-anti-discrimination-movement-case-dies-kishoreganj-jail-3862066
16. Riazul Islam (74), Sunamganj District Jail, 09/04/2025, https://www.observerbd.com/news/520355
17. Farzan Hossain Sajib (26), Chattogram Central Jail, 25/04/2025, https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/prisoner-dies-chattogram-jail-authorities-say-cardiac-arrest-family-alleges-assault
18. Imam Hossain Bacchu (44), Cumilla Central Jail, 31/05/2025, https://www.observerbd.com/news/528272
19. Md. Ali Azgar, Dhaka Central Jail, 07/06/2025, https://en.bddigest.com/death-procession-in-jail-awami-league-leader-ali-azgar-dies-in-prison-on-eid-day/
20. Saidur Rahman Sujon (45), Dhaka Central Jail, 15/06/2025, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ex-chairman-savar-found-dead-dhaka-jail-3917641