The interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, should urgently act to protect human rights, said Human Rights Watch.
Soon after Hasina resigned and left, tens of thousands of Bangladeshis celebrated the end of her repressive rule. However, celebrations turned violent in some places, with hundreds killed or injured as demonstrators sought reprisals against those perceived to have supported Hasina's government, said Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Director of the New York-based global rights watchdog's Asia division.
"Rioters burned down historical structures and targeted members of Hasina's Awami League party. In several districts around the country, members of the Hindu community, which is generally considered to have largely backed the Awami League, were violently attacked, their homes torched, temples vandalised, and shops looted. There were also reports of attacks against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and ethnic minorities," she added.
In many places, Muslim clerics, students, and community leaders came out to protect Hindu temples and Christian churches, while political leaders, as well as protest organisers, called for calm.
Rioters have frequently targeted and attacked police members, who are widely disliked for repeated abuse of human rights over the years.
However, the new Inspector General of Police Mohammad Mainul Islam publicly apologised for "unprofessional officers" who "did not follow the accepted principles of applying force and violated human rights".
