Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Gravely Concerned Over the Politically Motivated Brutal Killing of Lawyer Sujon Mia in Moulvibazar

Paris, France; April 8, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, expresses its deepest outrage and unequivocal condemnation of the brutal and cowardly murder of Advocate Sujon Mia, a practicing lawyer at the Moulvibazar District Judge Court. He was fatally stabbed on the night of April 6, 2025, in what appears to be a politically motivated targeted killing.

This heinous act, committed in public under the watch of the current interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, reflects a grave deterioration of law and order and exposes the abysmal state of protection for legal professionals in Bangladesh today.

An Attack on Justice and Democratic Norms

JMBF asserts that Advocate Sujon Mia was not only a lawyer but also a committed legal defender of political activists targeted under the current regime. His assassination represents more than the loss of a citizen — it is a direct assault on the independence of the legal profession, access to justice, and the constitutional and international human rights obligations of the Government of Bangladesh.

Under Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, every citizen has the right to protection of the law and to life and liberty. Moreover, Article 27 guarantees equality before the law for all persons. The state has failed on all counts.

Violations of International Human Rights Commitments

This incident constitutes a flagrant violation of:

  • Article 14 of the ICCPR, guarantees the right to legal representation and a fair trial, and by extension, the safety and independence of lawyers;

  • The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990), which clearly state:

    • "Governments shall ensure that lawyers can perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment, or improper interference." (Principle 16)

    • "Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions." (Principle 18)

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Bangladeshi human rights lawyer and Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), said, "This barbaric murder is not only a personal tragedy but a deliberate attempt to silence dissent and scare lawyers into submission. As a fellow human rights lawyer, I am appalled and enraged by the lack of protection for those who uphold justice. We demand immediate and meaningful accountability."

Robert Simon, renowned French human rights activist and Chief Adviser of JMBF said, "The killing of Sujon Mia is not an isolated incident. This is part of a broader pattern of human rights violations perpetrated against lawyers in Bangladesh, including killings, physical assaults, arrests, fabricated cases, and intimidation solely due to their professional activities and political beliefs under the present interim government. The government must answer for this crime."

Holding the Interim Government Accountable

JMBF believes that the interim government led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus has repeatedly claimed to uphold democratic and human rights values. Yet under its administration, legal professionals are facing threats, political interference, and, in this case, assassination. Silence or inaction from the government in this matter will make it complicit in the erosion of the very rule of law it purports to uphold.

JMBF therefore demands:

  1. An immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation into the murder of Advocate Sujon Mia and the prosecution of all those involved.

  2. Full protection of lawyers’ professional independence, including safeguards against threats, harassment, or political targeting.

  3. Clear and binding commitments from the government to uphold its constitutional and international obligations regarding the legal profession and the judiciary.

  4. An independent inquiry into patterns of violence and intimidation against politically vocal or active lawyers in recent months.

A Call to the Legal Community and International Observers

JMBF also calls on the Bangladesh Bar CouncilSupreme Court Bar Association, international human rights bodies, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to monitor this case closely and hold the Bangladesh government accountable.

The murder of Advocate Sujon Mia is not just a tragedy — it is a warning sign of a system sliding away from justice. We must not stay silent. We stand in solidarity with his family, colleagues, and the entire legal community of Bangladesh.

Thank you

Advocate Shahanur Islam
Founder President
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
📱 Cell: +33 (0)7 83 95 23 15

Fact in Brief (According to Information Received from JMBF Reliable Sources and Reports Published in Different News Media in Bangladesh)

Former Student League Leader and Pro-Awami League Lawyer Advocate Sujon Mia Stabbed to Death in Moulvibazar

On April 6, 2025, Advocate Sujon Mia (35), a practicing lawyer at the Moulvibazar District Judge Court and a former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader, was brutally stabbed to death late Sunday night by unidentified assailants. The attack took place in front of a roadside fuchka (snack) stall near Mayor’s Square in Moulvibazar town.

A Political Figure and Legal Professional

Sujon Mia was a resident of Purbo Hilalpur village in the Moulvibazar suburban area and the son of Zahurul Islam. His ancestral home is located in Dhubolapara, Brahmanbaria district. He was a former leader of the Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, and remained politically active within the party. Professionally, he had been practicing law at the Moulvibazar District Judge Court for the past 7–8 years, working as a junior to senior lawyer Advocate Bhupati Ranjan Chowdhury.

The Fatal Attack

According to eyewitnesses, at approximately 11:30 PM, Sujon Mia was seated with four colleagues at a fuchka stall in Mayor’s Square. A group of teenage assailants approached and surrounded him. Two of them kicked him to the ground, after which one stabbed him with a knife. The attackers quickly fled the scene.

Sujon was rushed to the 250-bed Moulvibazar General Hospital by locals, but the on-duty physician declared him dead upon arrival. The incident has deeply shaken his family, colleagues, and the local community.

District-Wide Shock and Protests

The killing has sparked widespread outrage across Moulvibazar. On Monday, lawyers and their assistants from the Moulvibazar Bar Association boycotted court proceedings in protest. They organized human chains, rallies, and protest marches demanding justice and improved security for legal professionals.

Possible Political Motive

Family members and colleagues of Sujon Mia believe he may have been targeted due to his political stance. They allege that he had been outspoken against politically motivated false charges and arrests of Awami League leaders under the current administration. His role in providing legal support to affected party members may have made him a target for reprisal.

Police Investigation Ongoing

The Officer-in-Charge of Moulvibazar Police Station confirmed that an investigation is underway. Authorities are working to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killing.

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JMBF is an independent non-profit, nonpartisan human rights organization registered in France with registration number W931027714 under the association law of 1901, dedicated to defending human rights, fighting for justice, and empowering communities in Bangladesh and beyond.

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