8.5.3. Reports of discrimination and targeted violence

LGBTIQ persons have been facing various forms of violence, discrimination and harassment,1134 including conversion therapy which is reportedly a widespread practice.1135 Under the former government, organisations and activists advocating for LGBTIQ rights faced legal barriers, limited access to funding, as well as security risks.1136 LGBTIQ activists faced censorship and restrictions,1137 and organisations supporting the LGBTIQ community were hindered in registering their organisations with state authorities.1138 According to human rights organisation Inclusive Bangladesh, legal and social obstacles faced by the LGBTIQ community limit the annual pride festival Dhaka Pride to an online event.1139

As reported by UN Women, gender-diverse individuals were impacted by the 2024 political unrest. Specifically, gender-diverse individuals faced the highest levels of harassment and violence in the aftermath of the former government’s fall according to a survey carried out by the source, with 42 % of respondents reporting incidents including verbal threats (15 %), psychological harassment (12 %), physical violence (7 %), harassment in public settings (4 %) and harassment in institutional settings (3 %). In contrast, 27 % of respondents reported incidents during and 25 % before the unrest. Gender-diverse individuals were reportedly facing ‘compounded risk’ during recovery due to weakened institutional and social support systems, and 76 % of gender-diverse respondents expressed a heightened sense of insecurity in public spaces. In the same survey, 76 % of gender-diverse respondents had received explicit harassing messages on social media and 16 % preferred not to disclose their experiences of harassment. Fear, stigma, or a lack of trust in available support mechanisms were claimed as reasons for not reporting cases of online harassment.1140

Organisations advocating for LGBTIQ rights expressed concern of extremist elements gaining ground under the interim government.1141 While Erasing 76 Crimes pointed out the governance vacuum and lack of social protection priorities as a root causes,1142

 ILGA Asia alleged the interim government of aligning with radical Islamist groups who have been a part of anti-LGBTIQ movements, and that ‘[s]some LGBTIQ activists who conducted advocacy work with Hasina’s government feel […] threatened’ by this.1143 In the aftermath of the former government’s fall in August 2024, sources reported on cases of targeted violence and intimidation that resulted in many LGBTIQ persons going into hiding.1144 Individuals identifying as LGBTIQ faced ‘systemic discrimination and violence’ as reported in 2024 by Inclusive Bangladesh, who indicated that the political instability ‘emboldened conservative factions’ leading to increased harassment and ‘scapegoating’ of LGBTIQ communities, increased threats of violence,1145 and harassment of LGBTIQ activists.1146 Human Rights Watch also reported that LGBTIQ people and advocates faced increased threats of violence in 2024.1147

Sources reported on LGBT teachers affected by the political turmoil.1148 In October 2024, an assistant professor at the Islamic University in Kushtia was barred from teaching in response to pro-Islamist students’ protests that he is gay,1149 and in November 2024, the principal of Kurigram Collectorate School and College was reportedly suspended from his job following ‘allegations’ of him being gay and subsequent protests.1150 In late 2024, the Islamic University barred two educators from teaching due to student protests accusing them of being gay1151 or ‘pro-LGBT’.1152 Around this time a gay kindergarten teacher was killed following an argument about homosexuality with three men.1 Moreover, in January 2025, one student from the Islamic University was expelled and another was arrested after both were accused of being a lesbian couple.1153 In April 2025, JMBF reported on a lesbian woman being arrested for physical assault and other charges, which the organisation claimed to be ‘fabricated’ charges. JMBF alleged that the woman was arrested because of her sexual orientation.1154

Violence against LGBTIQ persons continued to be reported in 2025, including:

• in January 2025, a hijra was allegedly murdered in Jashore [southwestern Bangladesh].1156 According to JMBF, the incident demonstrated ‘a broader pattern of systemic discrimination against the hijra community in Bangladesh;’1157

• in February 2025, a transgender activist was murdered by suspected extremists;1158

• in March 2025, two queer men were sexually assaulted in two separate incidents; according to Erasing 76 Crimes, one of the men was abducted and gangraped; the other man was allegedly sexually assaulted.1159