At least 600 incidents of political violence, resulting in the deaths of 158 political activists, were reported across the country between August 2024 and December 2025, according to a report by Transparency International Bangladesh.

The report said 7,082 people were injured during the violent incidents, the majority of which were linked to the BNP -- 550 incidents, accounting for 91.7 percent of the total.

The Awami League was involved in 124 incidents (20.7 percent), while Jamaat-e-Islami was linked to 7.7 percent and the National Citizen Party to 1.2 percent.

At least 15 political leaders and activists were killed within 36 days of the announcement of the election schedule on December 11, the report shows.

The report titled “Justice, State Reform and Election after the Fall of Authoritarianism: Expectations and Reality”, was unveiled at the TIB office in the capital’s Dhanmondi yesterday.

As of November 19, 2025, 1,785 cases, including 837 murder cases, related to crimes against humanity during the July uprising have been filed nationwide. Of those, 663 cases have been filed against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, 453 of which are murder cases.

The report said charge sheets have been submitted in only 106 cases, including 31 murder cases, indicating slow progress in investigations.

So far, 128 former ministers and members of parliament from the Awami League government have been arrested in connection with the cases.

The report also revealed that 761 cases have been filed against 1,168 serving and former police officials for crimes against humanity during uprising. Among them, 61 have been arrested.

At the International Crimes Tribunal, 450 complaints have so far been lodged -- 45 have been taken into cognisance. These cases involve 209 accused, with 84 arrests made. Currently, 12 cases against 105 accused are under trial at the ICT.

TIB said many accused individuals have fled the country, with allegations that members of the military, law enforcement and local political leaders directly or indirectly facilitated their escape.

The watchdog expressed serious concern over the indiscriminate filing of cases following the uprising, with the report estimating that around 150,000 people across the country have been accused.

It cited widespread allegations of “case trade”, retaliatory filings, political harassment and extortion, including threats of inclusion or promises of exclusion in cases. In many instances, the report said, law enforcement agencies accepted cases without proper investigation due to pressure.

TIB also raised concerns about the competence and political affiliations of judges and prosecutors appointed to the ICT.

It added that journalists and professionals were named as accused in murder cases, raising serious questions about the misuse of the justice system.

Addressing the event, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman warned that failure to control mob violence could affect the upcoming February 12 election.

He added that the phenomenon of mob violence in Bangladesh “actually started from within the government”, saying the Bangladesh Secretariat became one of the first places where mobs emerged. According to him, these groups later gained power in this way, weakening the government’s moral authority.

On election-related violence, Iftekharuzzaman cautioned, “We all hope there won’t be a single killing… But we cannot guarantee that. From that perspective, we believe the risk of violence will remain not only until February 12, but also for several days afterwards.”

He said the government was aware of the risks and had the authority, skills and experience to act. However, he expressed concern based on Bangladesh’s past electoral history. “Elections in Bangladesh have rarely been completely free of violence… Lessons from previous polls must be used to prevent violence this time.”

The TIB chief also expressed concern over the post-July accountability process, saying journalists have been detained in mass cases over allegations of involvement in killings during the movement.

He asked whether such actions against journalists were acts of justice or acts of revenge, warning that this approach makes it difficult to identify real perpetrators and supporters of authoritarianism.

While responding to reporters’ questions, he said, “Politicians and bureaucrats have learned nothing from the July movement and remain focused on protecting their own interests. As a result, they objected to proposals placed before the consensus commission aimed at creating a government accountable to the people.”

He said if the basic concept of a “note of dissent” is accepted, then decisions reached through consensus could still be implemented.

“Prioritising the opinions of the majority is a global practice, though it remains unclear whether this will be followed in Bangladesh… If a referendum verdict goes in favour of ‘yes’, implementation of reforms will depend on the goodwill of the future government.”

He also said, “The interim government could have set an example by making their wealth statements public, but it did not.”

Iftekharuzzaman criticised two recent ordinances -- the Broadcasting Commission Ordinance and the Media Commission Ordinance -- saying the media has been deliberately ignored and new risks have been created.

He questioned whether the interim government truly believes in allowing the media to work freely, professionally and safely, describing the reform commissions concerned as symbolic measures aimed at placing the media under greater government control.

On judicial reform, he said, “The interim government has taken some positive steps, including forming a judicial appointment committee and moving toward an independent judicial secretariat.”

However, he noted that the effectiveness of these measures would ultimately be tested under the next government, adding that politicisation within the judiciary remains a major challenge.

He urged political parties to make a strong commitment to keeping state institutions and professional bodies free from politics.