The month of February 2026 has been marked as a very important chapter in the history of Bangladesh. Following the end of the long-standing authoritarian rule through the student–people’s mass uprising of 2024, the democratic transition process that began created expectations for a new political chapter with the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on 12 February under the interim government. However, the incidents of political violence, electoral conflict, and multidimensional human rights violations that occurred across the country before and after the election have raised questions about that expectation.

Throughout February, the political arena remained heated and unstable. Political polarization surrounding the election, competition for power, expansion of dominance, and tendencies of retaliation gave rise to violence in different places. Attacks during campaigning, killing and injuring of rivals, vandalism and arson at electoral offices and property, and retaliatory attacks after the election weakened ordinary citizens’ security and their confidence in the rule of law. At the same time, interference was also observed in the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. During this period, incidents of physical, psychological, and digital harassment against women candidates, voters, and ordinary women increased, creating a concerning barrier to women’s participation in the political process. In addition, incidents of mob beating, obstruction in realizing legitimate demands, the role of law enforcement agencies, and the prolonged continuation of impunity have increased public concern.

After the end of the long authoritarian rule, hopes and aspirations had emerged among people—establishment of freedom, justice, equality, and human rights. The course of events in February presents a kind of conflicting reality with those aspirations. The overall situation indicates that the country’s democratic transition process still remains in a challenging and fragile state.

Based on news published in 16 national media outlets of Bangladesh and data collected by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), the following information has emerged in the human rights monitoring report for February 2026.