Bangladesh Faces Mass Arrests and Crackdown on Human Rights
Concerns are growing as Bangladesh experiences a sharp rise in mass arrests and a crackdown on human rights. UN experts have recently expressed alarm over the severe suppression of workers demanding fair wages and political activists calling for a free and fair election. They have also highlighted the judicial harassment faced by journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society leaders, as well as the country’s failure to reform laws that impede freedom of expression.
As the country heads towards national elections in early 2024, the experts have expressed deep disturbance at the escalating political violence, arrests of senior opposition leaders, and the mass arbitrary detention of thousands of political activists. Authorities have further exacerbated the situation through the use of excessive force and internet shutdowns to disrupt protests. Allegations of harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention of family members as a retaliatory measure have also raised alarm.
Of particular concern is the growing threat to media freedom. Over the past few years, Bangladesh has witnessed attacks, surveillance, intimidation, and judicial harassment of the press, leading to widespread self-censorship among media outlets. The weaponization of the judicial system against journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society leaders not only undermines the independence of the judiciary but also erodes fundamental human rights, according to the UN experts.
An example of such judicial harassment is the case of investigative journalist Rozina Islam, in which the prosecution has failed to produce material evidence even after two years of investigation, repeated hearings, and a travel ban that has directly impacted her work. The experts also shed light on the situation faced by the leading human rights organization Odhikar, whose secretary and director were convicted and imprisoned on charges of publishing fake information relating to documented extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force by security forces in 2013. The Bangladeshi government has failed to investigate these serious allegations, and Odhikar has been denied registration renewal.
The experts further emphasized that when prominent civil society leaders like Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus or human rights defenders like Adilur Rahman Khan or Nasiruddin Elan face charges or convictions as a result of their human rights work, it sends a chilling message to all journalists and human rights defenders that any dissent or critical opinion may lead to severe penalties, regardless of the outlandishness of the accusations or the individual’s prominence.
According to authorities, there are still over 5,600 pending cases related to freedom of expression, including those involving prominent journalists and editors. These cases are subject to criticism due to the controversial Digital Services Act. The recently enacted Cyber Security Act, despite promises from the government to bring about significant legal change, only contains a few improvements while preserving many flaws that continue to threaten the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression, caution the UN experts.
The experts concluded by calling on Bangladesh to take urgent and concrete action to end the attacks on human rights defenders and journalists. They highlighted the importance of ensuring a safe, open, and conducive environment for free and fair elections. The UN experts have also been in contact with the government of Bangladesh regarding these crucial issues. The universal periodic review of the Human Rights Council presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to reaffirm its commitment to human rights through both words and actions, and the international community is urged to press upon the country the urgency and significance of this matter.
In light of the worrying developments in Bangladesh, concerns continue to rise as mass arrests and a crackdown on human rights persist. It is vital that the government takes immediate action to safeguard the rights of its citizens and address the mounting issues affecting freedom of expression, political activism, and the judiciary. Failure to do so may undermine the democratic process and endanger the fundamental principles of human rights in the country.
