Dhaka, Oct. 10 -- In the wake of last year's July Uprising, the human rights landscape has undergone a complex transformation in Bangladesh. While abuses perpetrated by the former Awami League government ceased, the interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has been forced to contend with new challenges, including political retribution, mob violence, and a rise in communal attacks. Particularly since the turn of the year, there was also an alarming spike in violence against women.

The IG itself has come under attack for "turning a blind eye" to some of these offences, in effect allowing them to happen. Which perhaps explains a rather pugnacious appearance by the CA's press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, at a roundtable discussion ...