JMBF asserts that this incident is not just an attack on these individual lawyers—it is an assault on the fundamental principles of justice, legal independence, and democracy in Bangladesh. The use of the judiciary as a tool to silence political opposition is a deeply troubling sign of authoritarianism creeping into the legal system. The very professionals who uphold the law are now being victimized by the system they have sworn to serve.
JMBF urges the immediate release of all eight detained lawyers, as well as the dropping of charges against all 28 lawyers without conditions.
Fact in Brief:
On January 12, 2025, eight pro-Awami League lawyers from the Khulna District Lawyers' Association were sent to jail custody solely for their differing political beliefs, while bail was granted to 15 other lawyers. They were sent to jail by order of Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Sharif Hossain Haider in connection with a case filed over an alleged armed attack during the ongoing student-public movement, which is claimed to be fabricated.
The lawyers sent to prison are Advocate Abdul Kuddus, Advocate Al Amin Ukil, Advocate Sohel Parvez, Advocate Sumonto Kumar Biswas, Advocate Tamal Kanti Ghosh, Advocate Sheikh Shamim Ahmed Palash, Advocate Saidur Rahman Tutul, and Advocate Mehedi Hasan.
On September 21, Advocate Md. Emam Hossain, a lawyer supported by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the Khulna District Lawyers' Association, filed a case with the Khulna Sadar Police Station against 28 individuals, including the former president of the Khulna District Lawyers' Association, Advocate Saiful Islam. Among the accused, 23 lawyers secured six weeks of bail from the High Court on December 3, 2024. As per the High Court's directive, they surrendered before the Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on January 12 and sought bail.
Meanwhile, five other lawyers—former president of the Khulna District Lawyers' Association Advocate Md. Saiful Islam, former general secretary Advocate Tariq Mahmud Tara, Khulna District Awami League General Secretary Advocate Sujit Kumar Adhikari, Advocate Anisur Rahman Poplu, and Advocate Jesmin Parveen Jolly—remain absconding in connection with the case.
A Blatant Violation of National and International Legal Principles
JMBF believes that the filing of false and politically motivated cases against 28 lawyers and the imprisonment of eight among them is a blatant violation of both national and international legal frameworks. The Constitution of Bangladesh, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) all guarantee the right to freedom of profession and political belief—rights that are now being trampled upon.
Moreover, this incident violates the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990), which explicitly protects legal professionals from persecution due to their professional duties:
- Principle 16 states that lawyers must not be targeted or identified with their clients' causes simply for performing their legal responsibilities. By imprisoning these lawyers, the authorities are criminalizing their profession.
- Principle 18 ensures that lawyers must not face prosecution or punishment for carrying out their professional duties. The fact that these lawyers are being punished for their political beliefs sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the very fabric of justice.
A Threat to Judicial Independence
JMBF believes that the arbitrary detention of lawyers based on their political affiliation is a direct attack on judicial independence. When the legal system is manipulated for political gain, it erodes public trust in the judiciary and weakens democracy itself. A judiciary must remain free from political influence and executive control to ensure justice for all citizens.
Robert SIMON, prominent French human rights activist and Chief Adviser of JMBF, strongly condemned the arrests:
"The imprisonment of lawyers for their political beliefs is an outrageous attack on justice and democracy. An independent legal profession is the foundation of a free society. The world must take notice and act before it is too late."
The events in Khulna serve as a warning—the weaponization of the judiciary is being used as a tool to suppress opposition voices and dismantle democratic institutions. If left unchecked, this dangerous trend could have severe long-term consequences for the rule of law in Bangladesh.
Advocate Shahanur ISLAM, Bangladeshi human rights lawyer and Founder President of JMBF, warned:
"This is not just an attack on these eight lawyers—this is an attack on the entire legal profession in Bangladesh. If lawyers are not safe from political victimization, then no citizen is safe. The international community must intervene to protect the integrity of the judiciary."
JMBF’s Urgent Demands
In light of this blatant violation of human rights and judicial integrity, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) demands the following:
- The immediate and unconditional release of the eight imprisoned lawyers.
- An independent judicial review of the false charges to ensure that political bias does not influence legal proceedings.
- Accountability for the misuse of the judiciary, ensuring that legal professionals are not targeted for their political beliefs.
- International scrutiny and intervention from human rights organizations, including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, to investigate this case thoroughly.
- A commitment from the Bangladeshi government to uphold its obligations under national and international law, ensuring that the legal profession remains independent and protected.
A Call to Action
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stands in solidarity with the detained lawyers and all legal professionals who are fighting for the independence of the judiciary in Bangladesh. This injustice must not go unnoticed.
We urge the international legal community, human rights defenders, and global organizations to speak out against this grave violation of human rights. If political influence is allowed to corrupt the judiciary, then justice ceases to exist.
Justice must never be dictated by political power—it must be impartial, fair, and accessible to all.
Thank you.
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