STAFF CORRESPONDENT

At least 195 people have been killed and 11,229 injured in political violence across the country over the past 17 months, according to the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).

In its report titled “Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh (September 2024–January 2026),” unveiled at a press meet at the Press Club yesterday, HRSS said nearly half of the incidents—704 in total—resulted from internal feuds within the BNP and its affiliated bodies. These clashes led to 121 deaths and 7,131 injuries.

In another report titled “Report on Violence Prior to the 13th National Parliamentary Election” published on the same day, HRSS said at least five people were killed and 970 injured in election-related violence across the country in the two months following the announcement of the 13th Parliamentary Election schedule.

The report documented 162 incidents between December 11, 2025—the day the election schedule was announced—and January 31, 2026. These incidents included clashes, attacks, vandalism, and arson involving rival candidates and their supporters, often stemming from disputes over nominations and local political dominance, HRSS said at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club.

Meanwhile, human rights organisation Odhikar yesterday reported a higher death toll for a similar period. According to Odhikar, 328 people were killed and 9,182 injured in political violence between August 9, 2024, and December 31, 2025.

Odhikar’s data on BNP internal conflicts, covering January 1 to December 11, 2025, showed at least 76 BNP members killed and 3,746 injured due to infighting. According to Odhikar, two people were killed and 25 injured between the announcement of the polls and December 31, 2025.

HRSS described the rise in mob violence and lynching as “extremely alarming.” Its report recorded 413 incidents of mob violence nationwide under the interim government over 17 months, resulting in at least 259 deaths. Odhikar reported 181 deaths by public lynching during its reporting period.

Both reports highlighted the severity of these killings, noting that victims were often beaten to death or set on fire, citing, for instance, the case of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das, who was beaten and his body burned following allegations of blasphemy.

The HRSS report also documented at least 60 deaths in alleged clashes with law enforcement, in custody, or due to torture. The breakdown included six deaths in clashes or alleged “gunfights,” 22 from torture, 12 in police custody, and 20 from gunshot wounds. In addition, at least 127 accused individuals died in prison custody nationwide during the same period. Odhikar reported 45 victims of extrajudicial killings and 122 deaths in prison custody over 17 months.

Attacks on minority communities were also recorded. HRSS documented 56 incidents,

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