Amnesty Urges Human Rights Guarantees Ahead of Polls

In a formal open letter addressed to the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Amnesty International has issued a stark warning regarding the deteriorating state of civil liberties in Bangladesh. The Secretary General of the London-based human rights organisation, Agnès Callamard, asserted that the upcoming weeks will serve as a "litmus test" for the administration's commitment to the rule of law and international human rights obligations.

The letter, published on Wednesday, comes just weeks before the national elections scheduled for 12 February. Amnesty expressed profound concern over the continued misuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to silence journalists and the government's perceived failure to safeguard the rights to life, security, and freedom of expression.

Systematic Suppression of the Press

A central theme of the missive is the "arbitrary and unlawful" targeting of members of the press. Amnesty highlighted several cases where anti-terror legislation was weaponised against critics of the current administration.

According to the organisation, these actions directly violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Bangladesh is a signatory. The letter cited specific instances of what it terms "state-sponsored intimidation":

A Call for Decisive Leadership

Agnès Callamard emphasised that for the electoral process to be legitimate, the public must be able to participate "fully and without fear." She noted that the failure to curb violence—exemplified by the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on 18 December—erodes public confidence in state institutions.

"The interim administration has a mandate to uphold human rights in accordance with international law," Callamard stated. "Professor Yunus must demonstrate genuine leadership by ensuring that no citizen has to fear for their life simply for expressing a peaceful opinion."

Amnesty concluded the letter by urging the Interim Government to implement immediate policy reforms that protect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure that security forces act with restraint during the heightened tensions of the election period.