Thu Feb 20 17:51:17 UTC 2025: ## Bangladesh Security Forces Kill Two in Crime Crackdown, Sparking Concerns
**DHAKA, BANGLADESH** – Bangladeshi security forces killed two men during a raid on February 20, 2025, sparking concerns about a return to extrajudicial killings. Authorities claim the men, identified as Miraz Hossain (25) and Mohammed Jummon (26), opened fire on officers during an arrest attempt related to a recent surge in robberies. Five other suspects were apprehended. Security forces recovered machetes and a pistol from the scene.
The incident follows a period of rising crime since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Ms. Hasina’s government faced accusations of widespread extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, particularly by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a paramilitary force sanctioned by the U.S. in 2021. Police report that robberies in Dhaka have doubled since January 2024.
The killings have raised alarm among human rights groups. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a leading Bangladeshi human rights organization, urged authorities to exercise caution and avoid excessive force, citing the ineffectiveness of such tactics in the past. ASK warned that the heavy-handed approach mirrors past human rights abuses.
Family members of the deceased questioned the necessity of lethal force, expressing grief and disbelief. Witnesses reported numerous military vehicles at the scene and recounted hearing officers call for the suspects to surrender before the shooting.
The incident highlights a delicate security situation in Bangladesh and reignites concerns about the potential for a return to widespread human rights violations. The increased crime rate and the controversial actions of the security forces have created a climate of fear and uncertainty.
First Piper 