STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The interim government is contending with powerful and politicised law enforcement and security forces that have long benefited from a system of impunity, the Human Rights Watch said in a report released yesterday.

“Nearly 1,000 Bangladeshis lost their lives fighting for democracy, ushering in a landmark opportunity to build a rights-respecting future in Bangladesh,” Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in the report. “This hard-won progress could all be lost if the interim government does not create swift and structural reforms that can withstand any repression by future governments.”

The report was handed over to interim government Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus yesterday.

The report titled “After the Monsoon Revolution: A Roadmap to Lasting Security Sector Reform in Bangladesh” detailed how the law enforcement agencies and security forces have been used to serve the political agenda of the Awami League and solidify a rule of terror.

It also talked about how law enforcement continues to pander to vested political interests, post-August 5, and attacks on minorities, particularly those from Hindu and Ahmadiyya communities.

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