Bangladesh’s 2026 Ordinance on 2024 Protests Sparks Human Rights Concerns
Several international human rights organisations have strongly condemned a new ordinance issued by Bangladesh’s interim government that grants legal protection to participants in the 2024 protests that led to the fall of the previous government.
The ordinance, titled the July Mass Uprising (Protection and Determination of Liability) Ordinance, 2026, was published in the official gazette on January 25 by the legislative authorities.
In a joint statement, ten human rights groups argued that the law offers impunity for criminal acts committed under the broad label of “political resistance,” directly violating Bangladesh’s Constitution, international human rights law, and fundamental principles of justice. They described the move as a serious breach of human rights standards.
According to the statement, the ordinance allows for the withdrawal of all previous criminal cases related to the July–August protests and prevents new cases from being filed. As a result, numerous families of individuals killed or injured during the demonstrations are effectively denied justice and the right to truth, with their suffering not legally acknowledged.
Human rights advocates also expressed alarm that the term “political resistance” lacks a clear legal definition recognised under international law, creating the risk that serious crimes — including extrajudicial killings, violent attacks, and property destruction — could be shielded by the ordinance. They warned that this blurs the line between legitimate political activity and criminal conduct, undermining the rule of law.
The organisations emphasised that the ordinance sets a troubling precedent for global human rights protections, stating that political stability cannot be achieved by bypassing justice, and that a democratic future cannot be built at the expense of victims’ voices.
Source: IANS
