Bangladesh’s interim government is struggling to control the law and order situation and to implement its pledged human rights reforms, according to the annual report of Human Rights Watch (HRW) released on Wednesday.

The report notes that the practice of enforced disappearances seen during the tenure of the previous Sheikh Hasina-led government has largely come to an end. However, it raises serious concerns over the mass arrest of thousands of people on political grounds.

HRW said many detainees remain behind bars without trial, while bail petitions are being routinely rejected. Those arrested include not only politicians but also actors, lawyers and musicians. Thousands of people have been named as unidentified accused in multiple cases, the report added.

The rights watchdog also identified the alarming rise in mob violence as one of the major challenges facing the interim government. According to HRW, at least 124 people were killed in mob-related violence between June 2024 and August last year.

The report further highlighted the deterioration of the overall humanitarian situation, citing increasing incidents of violence against women, attacks on religious minorities, renewed influx of Rohingya refugees, and a decline in foreign assistance.