Recent legislative initiatives by Bangladesh's interim government risk undermining fundamental freedoms, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report published today.
Instead of pursuing its pledge to reform the criminal justice system and bring accountability for serious abuses, the government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is allegedly attempting to suppress the rights of supporters of the deposed Awami League (AL) and its leader, Sheikh Hasina, the report said.
On May 12, the interim government imposed a "temporary" ban on the Awami League, invoking newly introduced powers under an amended Anti-Terrorism Act. The ban prohibits party-related meetings, publications, and online speech, and has sparked widespread criticism from rights groups and opposition figures.
HRW criticised the ban and related legal actions, saying they contradict the government's stated commitment to human rights and democratic values. "Sheikh Hasina's government abused legal powers to silence political opponents, but using similar methods against the supporters of her Awami League party would also violate those same fundamental freedoms," said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
The HRW report noted that although the interim administration has taken some positive steps since coming to power on August 5, 2024 — following three weeks of deadly protests that left about 1,400 people dead — recent actions have cast doubt on its intentions. The Election Commission has already stripped the Awami League of its registration, citing the ban imposed by the interim government.
The ban is expected to remain in place until party leaders face trial for alleged abuses committed during their 15-year tenure, a process that could take years. The government has prohibited "all activities including any kind of publication, media, online and social media, any kind of campaign, procession, meeting, gathering, conference, etc. by Bangladesh Awami League," effectively curbing freedom of speech and association for a wide base of the party's supporters.
These actions followed an ordinance amending the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, which expanded the Tribunal's authority to prosecute and dismantle political organisations. The amendment defines "organisation" broadly, including any political party, affiliated group, or individuals who are deemed to support such entities. HRW warned that the vaguely drafted powers could violate international standards of due process and freedom of association.
The Tribunal is now empowered to penalise "any group of individuals which, in the opinion of the Tribunal, propagates, supports, endorses, facilitates, or engages in the activities of such a [banned] party or entity."
"Those accused of committing crimes under Hasina's government should be appropriately prosecuted, but imposing a ban on any speech or activity deemed supportive of a political party is an excessive restriction on fundamental freedoms that mirrors the previous government's abusive clampdown on political opponents," HRW said.
HRW further noted that a broad spectrum of individuals — including actors, lawyers, singers, and activists — have already been arrested under politically motivated murder charges. Prosecutors reportedly justified these arrests by alleging support for the "rule of fascist Hasina."
Concerns are also growing over delays in addressing serious human rights violations committed during the Awami League's tenure. On August 27, 2024, the interim government formed a commission of inquiry into enforced disappearances, which were allegedly widespread under Hasina's rule. In its preliminary report, the commission said it had recorded 1,676 complaints, with around 200 victims still missing. The report described a "systematic design" targeting political opponents, citing torture and inhumane conditions at secret detention sites run by security agencies.
Although the commission has requested an extension until December 2025 to complete its findings, the proposed legislation to address enforced disappearances reportedly overlooks the commission's role and omits references to "widespread" or "systematic" disappearances, delegating those cases to the overburdened and controversial International Crimes Tribunal.
While the proposed law would establish a National Commission on the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearances, HRW said the draft lacks provisions to ensure its independence. It also proposes a Tribunal for Prevention and Remedies of Enforced Disappearance, which would not have jurisdiction over crimes against humanity.
The legislation would criminalise individuals who aid, abet, or conspire in a disappearance. However, it sets a higher threshold for command responsibility than the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The draft law excludes liability based on "constructive knowledge" and introduces a requirement that the superior must have "exercised authority in an act connected with the disappearance." It also fails to distinguish between civilian and military command structures, using the vague term "superior officer." The law permits the death penalty if the victim is killed — a measure HRW calls abusive and incompatible with human rights norms.
The lack of meaningful progress has left victims' families in anguish. "I still hope [my son] will come back," said the mother of a man who disappeared in 2013. "But if he can't come back, I want the perpetrators brought to justice so no one can think of taking away another mother's son."
Some families have also faced intimidation. HRW cited the case of Sanjida Islam, coordinator of victims' group Mayer Daak, whose family home was raided by police on May 8.
To promote human rights in Bangladesh, HRW urged the interim government to reverse repressive actions, protect the freedom of expression for Awami League members and supporters, and focus on prosecuting crimes with credible evidence. It also called for an end to politically motivated pretrial detentions and emphasised that such detentions should remain the exception, not the rule.
"The priority should be to deliver justice for human rights violations, particularly unlawful killings and enforced disappearances," HRW said. "The government should use evidence gathered by the commission of inquiry to prosecute alleged perpetrators, remove suspects in the security forces from active duty, and reveal the fate of the missing."
"There is widespread anger against the Awami League for the many abuses committed during Hasina's rule, but stripping supporters of opposition parties of their rights isn't a way forward," said Ganguly. "Instead, the interim government should ensure progress on revealing what happened to the disappeared and holding perpetrators accountable through fair trials."