Human Rights Under Scrutiny as Bangladesh Heads to National Election

Ahead of the upcoming national election in Bangladesh, the international human rights organization Amnesty International has called for making the protection of human rights the highest priority. In a letter addressed to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that major challenges still remain in ensuring the human rights of all people in Bangladesh.

The letter, written on January 26, was published on Amnesty International’s website. It states that the national election scheduled to be held on February 12 under the supervision of the interim government represents a critical juncture for Bangladesh. She noted that this period presents a significant opportunity to rebuild public trust, strengthen the rule of law, and advance human rights reforms.

In the letter, Agnès Callamard described the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture as positive steps. However, she emphasized that structural and institutional changes take time and that effective reforms are still urgently needed.

Amnesty International stated that during the tenure of successive governments in the past, Bangladesh has witnessed serious human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The letter also mentioned that journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents, and members of civil society have been subjected to reprisals.

Ahead of the election, Amnesty International placed particular emphasis on ensuring freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to association. The organization urged that political parties, labor unions, student groups, journalists, and human rights defenders be allowed to exercise their rights without fear, surveillance, or harassment.

The letter also expressed deep concern over the misuse of security laws, including the Anti-Terrorism Act. It described the practice of arresting journalists based on allegations of political ideology or affiliation as a threat to freedom of expression. Additionally, it highlighted the state’s failure to prevent or respond adequately to recent attacks on journalists, minorities, and cultural organizations.

Amnesty International believes that the upcoming election will serve as a major test of the interim government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law. The decisions taken now will shape the trajectory of Bangladesh’s human rights situation for many years to come. Therefore, the organization called on the government to seize this opportunity and provide human rights–centered leadership.