Justice Makers Bangladesh in France condemns mass arrests of Awami League leaders and supporters, urging Bangladesh authorities to justify detentions and warning that political repression threatens civil liberties, peaceful assembly, political pluralism and democratic accountability.
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), an international human rights organisation, has strongly condemned the reported mass arrests of Awami League leaders, activists and supporters across Bangladesh, warning that the crackdown could pose a serious threat to civil liberties, political pluralism and accountability in the exercise of state power.
In a statement on Monday, the rights organisation expressed grave concern over what it described as an extensive crackdown by Bangladeshi authorities against members and supporters of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations. According to JMBF, more than 200 leaders and activists have reportedly been arrested across the country during the past three days, including 72 people in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
The organisation said the arrests were linked to peaceful processions, meetings and preparations to participate in political activities. It alleged that Bangladeshi authorities have characterised participation in, or preparations for, peaceful processions as “terrorist and anti-state activity.”
JMBF strongly disputed such characterisation, arguing that participation in a peaceful procession does not constitute terrorism, attending a political meeting is not in itself a criminal act, and political affiliation alone cannot provide sufficient grounds for arrest.
The rights body said the deprivation of liberty by labelling political criticism or opposition activities as “anti-state” could amount to an abuse of state power. It also stressed that the use of anti-terrorism legislation should not be used to legitimise political repression or indiscriminate detention.
“Even when a political organisation’s activities are prohibited by executive order, its members and supporters retain their fundamental rights,” JMBF said. The organisation maintained that political affiliation cannot be treated as a substitute for evidence of criminal conduct and that authorities must establish the specific role of each person before making an arrest.
JMBF further criticised what it described as vague allegations, political labels and formulaic accusations, saying such claims cannot absolve authorities of responsibility for mass arrests. The organisation argued that every detention should be supported by clear and specific grounds demonstrating the alleged offence and the individual’s involvement.
Against the backdrop of more than 200 reported arrests nationwide, including 72 during successive operations surrounding a peaceful procession in Gulshan, JMBF demanded that the Bangladesh government provide explanations for each detention.
The rights organisation questioned what specific allegations had been made against each arrested person, what role each individual was alleged to have played and on what basis authorities had determined that arrest was necessary.
JMBF stressed that peaceful political participation and party affiliation should not automatically be treated as evidence of criminal conduct. It warned that widespread arrests could create fear among citizens and discourage people from exercising their rights to peaceful assembly, political participation and expression.
The organisation said that imprisoning people for peaceful political participation and forcing them away from public life through fear of arrest could contribute to a society governed by fear rather than democratic participation and accountability.
JMBF also called on the international community to closely monitor the human rights situation in Bangladesh. It specifically urged the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, the European Union and other international organisations to pay close attention to what it described as worsening political repression in the country.
The rights body urged international stakeholders to take appropriate measures, including effective diplomatic engagement and pressure, to encourage the Bangladesh government to ensure an environment where citizens can exercise their political and civil rights equally, irrespective of political affiliation.
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The statement comes amid heightened concerns over political freedoms and the treatment of opposition-linked activists in Bangladesh. JMBF said respect for fundamental rights, due process and individual accountability should remain central to any law-enforcement action, particularly when arrests involve political activities and peaceful public gatherings.
