International rights groups and bar councils have condemned the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh for politically motivated persecution of lawyers, citing hundreds of false charges and intimidation targeting pro-Awami League legal professionals across the country.
In a scathing condemnation of Bangladesh’s interim administration, a coalition of 15 international human rights organisations and bar councils on Wednesday accused the Muhammad Yunus-led government of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign against members of the country’s legal community. The groups alleged that hundreds of lawyers have faced intimidation, fabricated charges, and persecution for performing their professional duties and expressing political opinions.
The joint statement, issued by the organisations, said the crackdown on lawyers under the Yunus regime represents an alarming assault on the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Bangladesh.
268 incidents of persecution documented
The France-based rights group Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), one of the signatories of the statement, has reportedly documented 268 verified incidents of persecution affecting 849 lawyers between August 2024 and September 2025.
According to JMBF’s findings, at least 200 incidents targeting 721 lawyers involved false charges of murder, attempted murder, sabotage, seditious conspiracy, extortion, and other serious offences—charges allegedly designed to criminalise and silence lawyers engaged in legitimate legal work or political activity.
“The evidence reveals a coordinated, politically motivated campaign orchestrated by the Interim Government, led by former Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, and its allies, targeting lawyers for their political affiliations, professional responsibilities, and organizational engagements,” the statement read. “This campaign has undermined the independence of the legal profession, obstructed justice, and threatened the rule of law.”
Disproportionate targeting of pro-Awami League lawyers
The report further highlighted that the repression has been overwhelmingly politically motivated, disproportionately affecting lawyers affiliated with the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL). JMBF documented 236 incidents involving 795 victims, representing 88% of all incidents and 93% of all victims nationwide.
“These figures demonstrate a deliberate effort to neutralise pro-BAL lawyers and obstruct justice,” the groups said, accusing the Yunus government of using the legal system as a political weapon to eliminate opposition voices within the judiciary.
Global condemnation and calls for immediate action
The coalition of organisations expressed grave concern over the “politically motivated and systematically targeted” attacks on the country’s legal professionals. They urged the Yunus administration to immediately end all forms of persecution, release imprisoned lawyers, and withdraw all politically motivated charges.
The joint statement also called upon the interim government to take concrete steps to ensure the protection of lawyers from harassment, intimidation, and violence, and to guarantee justice for persecuted legal professionals.
“The government must create an enabling environment where lawyers can perform their duties without fear, interference, or retaliation,” it added.
Appeal to international bodies
In addition to domestic reforms, the organisations appealed to the international community, particularly the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Parliament, and the European Commission, to closely monitor the escalating repression of legal professionals in Bangladesh. They urged these bodies to provide direct support and protection to lawyers under threat, including emergency legal aid and international advocacy.
Human rights defenders also warned that the current crackdown risks further undermining Bangladesh’s fragile democratic institutions, already under strain since the political crisis that followed the formation of the Yunus-led interim government in 2024.
A challenge to Bangladesh’s legal independence
Observers note that the continuing persecution of lawyers could have lasting implications for the nation’s judicial independence. Legal analysts warn that by targeting lawyers for their political affiliations, the interim administration risks turning the justice system into a political battleground rather than a guardian of rights and accountability.
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As Bangladesh continues its uncertain political transition, rights advocates stress that the protection of lawyers and the preservation of judicial integrity will be key indicators of whether the Yunus government genuinely upholds democratic principles—or simply replaces one form of repression with another.
