PRESS NOTE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brussels, Belgium – December 20, 2025
SADF Condemns Bangladesh’s Descent into Mob Rule; Denounces “Operation Devil Hunt 2” and State-Sanctioned Dehumanization of Political Opposition
The South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) expresses its profound outrage over the catastrophic collapse of the rule of law in Bangladesh during the night of December 18–19. The coordinated arson attacks on the nation’s leading independent media houses, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the violent targeting of Indian diplomatic missions, and the horrific lynching of a religious minority youth signal a nation veering toward state-sanctioned anarchy.
A Night of Terror: Media and Minorities Under Fire
Following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, Convenor of Inquilab Manch, violent mobs targeted the Karwan Bazar media hub, trapping dozens of journalists in burning buildings. SADF views the vandalism and arson of these newsrooms not as spontaneous grief, but as a deliberate attempt to silence the only remaining bastions of independent oversight in the country.
Simultaneously, we are horrified by the report of the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu garment worker in Mymensingh. Accused of “blasphemy” over social media comments, Mr. Das was reportedly beaten to death, tied to a tree, and his body set ablaze. This barbaric act, occurring while security forces were focused on political crackdowns, highlights the extreme vulnerability of religious minorities in a climate where “mob justice” is increasingly treated as a legitimate tool of social control.
The Failure of the Interim Government and “Operation Devil Hunt 2”
SADF holds the Interim Government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, directly responsible for this security vacuum. Instead of fostering reconciliation, the administration has escalated tensions through:
- Operation Devil Hunt 2: This nationwide security clampdown, ostensibly aimed at illegal arms, is being used as a partisan tool to “hunt” and purge members of the Awami League.
- Dehumanizing Rhetoric: We condemn the inflammatory language used by the Home Ministry Adviser, who has characterized political opponents as “devils” and “fascist terrorists.” This dehumanization by high-ranking state officials provides the moral and legal cover for mobs to attack media houses and lynch citizens with impunity.
- Persecution of Intellectuals: The continued detention of Shahriar Kabir, a 73-year-old journalist and human rights defender, is a dark stain on this transition. Despite failing health and a lack of credible evidence, Mr. Kabir remains a victim of “unfounded judicial proceedings” designed to eliminate secular voices.
Policy Recommendations: A Call to the International Community
The upcoming February 2026 general elections cannot be inclusive, free, fair, or credible if the state continues to hunt its opposition and allow its minorities to be burned alive. SADF issues the following urgent recommendations:
- Immediate International Condemnation: We call upon the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), and the United States Department of State to move beyond private concern and publicly condemn the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das and the arson attacks on the press.
- Sanction Accountability: The international community must review its diplomatic and financial support for the Interim Government if it continues to facilitate the dehumanization of political rivals through “Operation Devil Hunt 2.”
- Protection of Minorities and Press: The government must immediately deploy the military to protect media hubs and minority neighborhoods, shifting focus away from political “hunts” and toward basic public safety.
- Release of Political Prisoners: Shahriar Kabir and other journalists detained under the Anti-Terrorism Act must be released immediately to restore a semblance of democratic pluralism.
“Bangladesh is at a crossroads where the revolution’s promise is being incinerated by its own protectors,” said Barrister Tapas Kanti Baul, Senior Associate of SADF. “If the international community remains silent while journalists are silenced and minorities are lynched, it becomes complicit in the birth of a new authoritarianism.”
About SADF:
The South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) is a Brussels-based think tank focusing on regional security, human rights, and the promotion of democratic governance across South Asia.
Media Contact:
SADF Communications Department
Email: info@sadf.online
Website: www.sadf.online
