JMBF asserts that the arrest and detention of these six lawyers have been carried out without due process, solely based on their professional and political engagements. Most of them have been implicated in cases where they were neither directly named in the First Information Report (FIR) nor had any evidence presented against them but were instead included in lists of unidentified suspects. In some cases, bail petitions were rejected outright, and they were sent to jail without any credible legal justification, reflecting an alarming pattern of judicial suppression aimed at silencing dissenting voices.
Fact in Brief (Information received from JMBF Reliable Sources and reports published in various media in Bangladesh):
Incident 01: Three Lawyers Arrested in Lakshmipur for Opposing Political Beliefs in Connection with Sad Al Afnan Murder Case
On Monday, February 3, 2025, former president of the Lakshmipur District Bar Association, Advocate Nurul Huda, and former public prosecutor (PP) of the District Judge Court, Advocate Zahir Uddin, were arrested. Advocate Babar was taken into custody after leaving the court premises in the morning, while Advocate Nurul Huda was apprehended near his residence in the Jhumur area on his way to court.
Both were shown as arrested in connection with the murder case of student Sad Al Afnan on August 4. They were presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, which ordered their imprisonment. However, neither of them was listed as an accused in the case; instead, they were categorized under unidentified suspects.
Earlier, on the night of Saturday, December 14, 2024, Advocate Javed Hossain Monowar, a lawyer from the Lakshmipur Advocate Bar Association, was arrested at Ramganj Police Station. He was later shown as arrested in the same case related to the killing of student Sad Al Afnan, who was shot dead during the student-public uprising on August 4.
On Sunday, December 15, 2024, when he was presented before the court, a bail petition was submitted. However, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Abu Sufian Mohammad Noman rejected the bail plea and ordered his imprisonment.
Incident 02: Jamalpur Bar Association President Advocate Aman Ullah Akash Arrested for Opposing Political Beliefs
On Monday, February 3, 2025, police arrested Advocate Aman Ullah Akash, the president of the Jamalpur Bar Association. He was taken into custody from the street in the evening while returning home from the bar association.
Earlier that afternoon, the Jamalpur Bar Association had organized a farewell ceremony for the Jamalpur District and Sessions Judge. As the president of the association, Advocate Aman Ullah Akash attended the event. However, while returning home in the evening, he was arrested in front of the Municipal Eidgah ground.
He has been charged with alleged involvement in attacks on the peaceful anti-discrimination student-public movement that took place in July-August. Advocate Aman Ullah Akash has served as the president of the Jamalpur Bar Association for eight terms.
Incident 03: Dhaka Bar Association Lawyer Rabiul Islam Robi Arrested for Opposing Political Beliefs
On December 24, 2024, police arrested Advocate Rabiul Islam Robi, a lawyer of the Dhaka Bar Association, in connection with the murder of Md. Jasim during the anti-discrimination student movement in the Uttara West Police Station area of the capital.
Later, on Wednesday, December 25, the investigating officer of the case, Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Saiful Islam of Uttara West Police Station presented him before the court. The officer requested a 10-day remand for interrogation, while Rabiul Islam's lawyers filed a bail petition. However, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Zakir Hossain rejected both the remand and bail petitions and ordered his imprisonment.
According to case details, Md. Jasim participated in the anti-discrimination student movement on August 5 in the Uttara West Police Station area. Later that day, at around 3:30 PM, he was shot and killed. On December 11, the victim’s wife, Mosammat Farida, filed a case against 205 individuals, in which Rabiul Islam was listed as the 10th accused in the FIR.
Incident 04: Former Deputy Attorney General & Supreme Court Bar Association General Secretary Advocate Momtaz Uddin Mehdi Arrested
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, at noon, police from Uttara West Police Station arrested former Deputy Attorney General Advocate Momtaz Uddin Mehdi from his residence in Uttara. Mehdi also previously served as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association.
Later, when he was presented before the court, the honorable court ordered his imprisonment. According to the police, several allegations have been filed against him. Law enforcement officials stated that crucial information was obtained from Mehdi following his arrest. Authorities further claimed that he had been providing various directives to Awami League leaders through Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
Robert Simon, prominent French human rights activist and Chief Adviser of JMBF, stated, “The consequences of such authoritarian measures extend beyond the legal community. When lawyers are arrested and silenced, the entire justice system is weakened, public trust in the judiciary is eroded, and the principles of democracy and rule of law are severely undermined.”
He also added, “The use of legal mechanisms as a tool of political oppression threatens the fundamental freedoms of all citizens, as it creates an environment where legal professionals cannot operate independently, and individuals fear persecution for expressing dissenting opinions.”
Advocate Shahanur Islam, Bangladeshi human rights lawyer, and Founder President of JMBF, stated, “The arrest and imprisonment of lawyers for their professional activities and political beliefs are symptoms of an alarming authoritarian shift, and if left unchecked, they will cripple Bangladesh’s legal system, undermine democracy, and push the country further into political repression.”
He also added, “Justice must not only be done but it must also be seen to be done. The rule of law cannot survive in an environment where lawyers are arrested for simply doing their job. If the legal profession is not free, no citizen can truly be free.”
JMBF believes that these actions violate the Constitution of Bangladesh, which guarantees equality before the law (Article 27), protection of personal liberty and due process (Article 31), freedom of thought, conscience, and expression (Article 39), and the right to seek judicial remedies (Article 44). The arrests also contravene Bangladesh’s obligations under international law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which enshrines the right to a fair trial, protection against arbitrary detention, and freedom of expression and political opinion.
In addition, JMBF believes that these detentions directly undermine the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which explicitly state that lawyers must not suffer persecution or threats for performing their legal duties and must be free to carry out their professional responsibilities without fear of retribution. By targeting lawyers for their political beliefs or professional activities, the government is systematically eroding the independence of the legal profession, making it impossible for lawyers to represent their clients, advocate for human rights, or hold the state accountable.
JMBF calls upon the Government of Bangladesh to immediately release all arrested lawyers, drop all politically motivated charges, and ensure that no legal professional is harassed or detained for their political beliefs or professional duties. The authorities must uphold due process and fair trial standards following both national and international legal obligations.
JMBF also urges the international community, including human rights organizations, bar associations, and legal advocacy groups worldwide, to take urgent action in pressuring the Bangladeshi government to end the unlawful persecution of lawyers and to restore judicial independence.
JMBF stands in firm solidarity with the persecuted legal professionals and demands an immediate end to these unlawful actions.
Thank you,
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