The New Delhi-based organization 'Rights and Risks Analysis Group' (RRAG) recently published a false report alleging politically motivated killings in Bangladesh. Most of the claims made in RRAG's press release are misleading and not supported by factual evidence, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser's Press Wing Facts.
The Chief Adviser's Press Wing Facts released this information in a post on Monday (June 9) afternoon.
The statement notes that, according to RRAG's press release, at least 123 members of the Awami League and its affiliate organizations were victims of targeted killings between August 5 and April 30 during Dr. Yunus's administration. RRAG presented these killings as retaliatory attacks by Dr. Yunus's supporters.
RRAG further falsely claimed that the interim government prohibited the OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) from conducting an independent fact-finding investigation into human rights violations. However, the majority of claims in RRAG's press release are misleading and not supported by factual evidence.
RRAG cited specific incidents of alleged targeted killings. However, a close examination of the cited cases reveals they were rooted in common criminal or local motives, not targeted political assassinations. The original accounts published by local media and authorities directly contradict RRAG's narrative, as explained below:
Nachol Double Murder (December 17, 2024)
RRAG claimed that two youths, Masud and Raihan, were killed by Yunus's supporters for writing "Joy Bangla." However, this murder was not related to politics but stemmed from a local dispute. The victims' families publicly denied the political narrative, clarifying that their sons had no affiliation with the Chhatra League (student wing of Awami League) and that the killings resulted from a clash among juvenile groups. The victims' father stated that the politically motivated claims were entirely fabricated.
Murder of Arina Begum (December 5, 2024)
RRAG alleged that 45-year-old Arina was hacked to death "solely because her son was a local Chhatra League president and in hiding." Evidence, however, points to personal motives. Police promptly arrested her husband as the prime suspect after the murder. Investigators and local residents suspect an extramarital affair, not politics, was behind the killing.
Death of Tofazzal (September 19, 2024)
RRAG claimed that Tofazzal, a union-level Chhatra League leader from Barguna, was beaten to death by students and the public in a politically motivated attack at Dhaka University (DU). However, crucial context is missing here. Tofazzal was mentally ill and had no connection to any campus clashes. On the night of September 18, DU students from Fazlul Haque Hall mistakenly apprehended him as a thief and fatally beat him when he gave incoherent answers. It was posthumously revealed that he had a long history of mental illness and frequently roamed the DU campus. This was not a targeted political killing at all; it was a tragic mob injustice by students (ironically, some of whom were reportedly Chhatra League members) who falsely identified him as a thief.
Mob Killing of Abdullah Al Masud (September 8, 2024)
RRAG implied that Masud, a disabled former Chhatra League leader, was targeted despite being politically inactive. Indeed, he was beaten to death by a mob in Rajshahi amid post-coup tensions. The 35-year-old man was mistakenly accused by locals of attacking protesters on August 5 when he went to buy medicine for his newborn. Although there were no charges against him, the mob fatally beat him.
Murder of Babar Ali in Bogura (August 13, 2024)
RRAG described Babar Ali (in his 50s) as an Awami League worker who was abducted from his home and found with his throat slit. However, this suggests personal revenge rather than a political attack. Babar Ali owned a small grocery store in Bogura town. On August 13, several youths called him outside. His body was found the next morning. The victim's daughter, Bina Akhter, testified that her father had a long-standing dispute with some local individuals over his grocery business, and she firmly believes they killed him because of that dispute. Police have also indicated old enmity as a possible motive and have initiated an investigation to identify the perpetrators.
The Chief Adviser's Press Wing Facts also stated that a comprehensive analysis of the complete RRAG report is currently underway and will be released in due course.
Furthermore, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing Facts stated that RRAG falsely claimed the interim government restricted the UN human rights investigation. In reality, Dr. Muhammad Yunus formally invited OHCHR on August 30 and provided full cooperation. The February 2025 OHCHR report accused the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina of orchestrating a severe crackdown that resulted in the deaths of up to 1,400 people.
Contrary to RRAG's claims, the report did not state that most victims were Awami League supporters or that relatives were silenced out of fear. Fact-checkers have confirmed that RRAG's claim of "750 Awami League deaths" is based on a forged UN list. The list of 144 individuals submitted by the Awami League was noted but not verified by the UN. RRAG distorted this information to create a false narrative of persecution.
This misleading report from RRAG is not new. RRAG and its director, Suhas Chakma, have a history of disseminating anti-Bangladesh misinformation in favor of the fallen Awami League. In May 2025, RRAG falsely claimed that 640 journalists were targeted; the government rejected this as misleading, clarifying that legal actions were mostly related to laws enacted during the previous administration and that there was no systematic media suppression.
Additionally, RRAG has exaggerated the number of casualties in the Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict, claiming 9 indigenous deaths, which an affiliate group inflated to 67. However, credible reports confirm only 4. The statement also noted that RRAG's claim of a systematic killing campaign against Awami League members does not align with reality.