Bangladesh’s Awami League denounces targeted killings of prison activists

Allegations emerge of a covert campaign under the Yunus regime aimed at silencing pro-liberation voices with urgent calls for independent investigations and accountability

Dhaka: The Awami League has strongly condemned a series of mysterious and deliberate killings of its activists across several prisons in Bangladesh. The party’s statement, released on June 10 in Dhaka, accused the interim regime led by Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating a covert campaign to terrorize and eliminate its members. According to eyewitness accounts and leaked reports, these fatalities include instances of deliberate medical negligence, forced poisonings, chemically induced cardiac arrest, solitary confinement, and severe physical torture, all carried out under the guise of routine administrative procedures.

The party further alleged that these brutal actions are part of what it calls the “Yunus Doctrine,” a strategy meant to cripple the grassroots strength of a movement that once played a pivotal role in securing Bangladesh’s independence. The Awami League contends that these targeted killings are not random events but rather a well-coordinated effort by a shadow authority linked to Yunus, intended to send a powerful message of fear and suppress future electoral resistance.

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In a particularly distressing development, the ruling party highlighted the recent jail execution of its leader, Ali Azgar, as a stark example of the regime’s ruthless tactics. The Awami League also reported that at least 21 of its members have died in custody since Muhammad Yunus assumed power, pointing to systemic abuse within environments that should be the safest under national law and international human rights standards.

Demanding justice and accountability, the Awami League called for immediate national action, including judicial inquiry commissions, independent investigation teams under Prime Minister’s Office supervision, and the presence of international human rights observers. The party stressed that these investigative measures are essential not only to expose the perpetrators of these crimes but also to safeguard the legacy of Bangladesh’s liberation movement. Underlining the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, whose moral authority as the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman resonates with the nation’s history, the Awami League expressed its unwavering belief that only she can restore justice and put an end to these heinous acts.