A total of 2,957 individuals lost their lives in "crossfires" and alleged "gunfights" at the hands of Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies between 2004 and September 2026, according to a comprehensive statistical report released by human rights organization Ain o Salish Centre (ASK) on Tuesday (October 27, 2026).
The statistical breakdown demonstrates that police operations accounted for the highest number of casualties, claiming 1,371 lives, which represents approximately 46% of total extrajudicial deaths. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)—now restructured and operating as the Special Response Battalion (SRB)—recorded the second-highest toll with 1,200 deaths (~41%). Joint operations involving police and RAB accounted for an additional 69 deaths, bringing the total casualties inflicted by police, RAB/SRB, and their combined drives to 2,640.
Crucially, the ASK annual data reveals a significant structural shift: zero 'crossfire' or 'gunfight' deaths have been recorded under Police or RAB/SRB custody since 2024. However, isolated fatal encounters persisted among other specialized agencies, including 1 death under Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in 2024, 1 death under Coast Guard in 2025, and 1 death under the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) up to September 2026. Rights observers emphasized that while recent years show a marked decrease in police-custody fatalities, independent judicial investigations and accountability remain essential for past violations.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
