Dhaka, Aug. 24 -- Bangladesh authorities should immediately take steps to end the prolonged pretrial detention of politicians and others linked to the deposed Awami League government, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

Police detained thousands of party officials, activists, and supporters after Sheikh Hasina was forced to step down as prime minister in August 2024 following weeks of protests, and hundreds remain in prison without being charged with any crime.

Though some officials may have been complicit in the Hasina government's serious rights violations, many were arrested without apparent evidence on allegations of murdering protesters. Their family members and lawyers allege that the detainees, many of them older people, some with...