Transparency International Bangladesh on Sunday called for a comprehensive overhaul of the state structure to ensure human rights, justice, and good governance.
The organisation made the demand during a series of simultaneous human chains formed in Dhaka and 45 other locations across the country, according to a press release.
It emphasised that the ongoing student movement had been subjected to severe and widespread human rights violations, marked by indiscriminate and brutal actions at multiple levels.
The organisation cited the misuse of power by law enforcement agencies and state institutions, a lack of good governance, and a system, plagued by corruption and arrogance, as the primary causes of the current crisis.
In response, TIB staff and volunteers issued an 11-point demand, insisting that these must be accepted without delay and implemented through a specific and time-bound roadmap.
The demands included ensuring accountability for all human rights violations through a nationally and internationally recognised investigation, identification of those responsible for tragic deaths, abuse of power, and the unlawful use of force and holding accountable, revealing a comprehensive list of all deceased and injured individuals, categorized by age and occupation.
The organisation condemned the state鈥檚 response to the peaceful anti-discrimination student movement, reporting that the movement had been met with imposed violence, leading to the tragic loss of hundreds of lives and a reign of terror over the past two weeks.
This violence has included unlawful killings through the use of lethal weapons by law enforcement, arbitrary arrests, illegal detainment, and torture, according to TIB.
The organization also highlighted the systematic violation of constitutionally guaranteed rights, including freedom of speech, the right to protest, and freedom of association.
It further claimed that false narratives had been used to legitimise these illegal activities, which continue to escalated public concern and mistrust.
Independent assessments indicate that over 200 students and ordinary citizens, including children, teenagers, journalists, and other professionals, have been killed by law enforcement agencies.
According to TIB, the fatalities resulted from the unlawful and indiscriminate use of power and lethal weapons by law enforcement.
At least 2,13,000 individuals have been implicated in more than 200 cases in the police stations of Dhaka alone, with many being detained or abducted despite clear evidence of their lack of involvement in any violence or illegal activities.
The organisation also reported that many individuals were being subjected to physical and mental torture during remand, further exacerbating the human rights crisis in the country.