JMBF calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Advocate Abul Bashar, the withdrawal of the politically motivated charges, and an independent investigation into the reported mob assault.
According to reports published by several Bangladeshi news outlets and information received from JMBF’s own sources, Advocate Bashar was reportedly assaulted by a group of individuals in the Pallabi area of Dhaka on the night of 16 September 2026 and subsequently handed over to the police. He was then recorded as having been arbitrarily arrested in connection with an earlier case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act concerning an alleged procession on 31 July 2026, although his name was not included as a suspect in that case. On 17 September 2026, a Dhaka court rejected his bail application and ordered his detention in prison.
During the court hearing, Advocate Bashar denied taking part in the alleged procession. He stated that he had been returning home after going out to buy milk for his 22-month-old child when three or four individuals blocked his way, physically assaulted him and gathered a mob against him.
Advocate Bashar challenged the allegation before the court and requested an examination of relevant videos, screenshots, digital records and location information to determine whether he had participated in the procession. He also stated that nothing incriminating had been recovered from his possession.
The reported assault, followed by his arrest in an earlier Anti-Terrorism Act case and subsequent imprisonment, raises serious concerns about arbitrary arrest and detention, politically motivated judicial harassment, due process, the presumption of innocence, protection from mob violence, and the safety and independence of lawyers in Bangladesh.
JMBF firmly believes that a person’s actual or perceived political affiliation, or their provision of legal assistance to people facing political persecution, cannot in itself constitute evidence of criminal responsibility or justify physical violence, arbitrary arrest, detention or judicial harassment. The authorities have an obligation to protect everyone from mob violence and to ensure that criminal proceedings are based on credible, specific and individualised evidence.
We urge you to write to the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, copying the relevant authorities listed below, to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Advocate Abul Bashar; the withdrawal of any politically motivated charges against him; an independent and impartial investigation into the reported assault; accountability for those responsible; and effective measures to protect lawyers from violence, intimidation, arbitrary detention and politically motivated persecution.
Your prompt support and solidarity would be greatly appreciated. Please find below the urgent appeal in English.
In solidarity,
EXACT LETTER SENT BY JMBF
Date: 18 September 2026
Subject: Urgent appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of Advocate Abul Bashar, the withdrawal of politically motivated charges against him, and an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the reported mob assault against him in Dhaka
Honourable Prime Minister,
Greetings from JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), an independent, non-profit and non-partisan international human rights organisation based in France and guided by the principles and values of the International Bill of Human Rights.
JMBF has learned from media reports and its own sources that, on the night of Wednesday, 16 September 2026, Advocate Abul Bashar, a practising lawyer, former Executive Committee member of the Dhaka Bar Association, and member of the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Awami League Legal Aid Council, was reportedly physically assaulted by a group of individuals in the Pallabi area of Dhaka and subsequently handed over to the police.
According to reports of the court hearing, Advocate Bashar stated that, at approximately 10:30 p.m. on 16 September, he had gone out to buy milk for his 22-month-old child and was returning home. Because he did not have cash, he was heading to a nearby shop to withdraw money through bKash when three or four individuals allegedly blocked his way.
Advocate Bashar stated that these individuals physically assaulted him and gathered a mob against him. He further stated that local residents eventually rescued him and contacted the national emergency service at 999.
After he was handed over to the police, Advocate Bashar was recorded as having been arbitrarily arrested as a suspect in connection with an earlier case filed with Pallabi Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act, although his name had not been included in the case.
According to the reported description of the case, it concerns an alleged procession held at approximately 6:30 a.m. on 31 July 2026 within the jurisdiction of Pallabi Police Station in Dhaka. Police alleged that leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations participated in the procession and engaged in activities against the government.
Advocate Bashar categorically denied participating in the alleged procession. During the court hearing, he requested an examination of technological evidence, stating that relevant videos, screenshots and location information could establish whether he had taken part. He also stated that nothing incriminating had been recovered from his possession.
On 17 September 2026, Advocate Bashar was produced before a Dhaka court. Pallabi Police Station Sub-Inspector Salahuddin Al-Mamun requested that he be detained in prison, while the prosecution opposed his bail application. Following the hearing, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam rejected his bail application and ordered his detention in prison.
JMBF believes that the reported circumstances of Advocate Bashar’s assault, arrest and imprisonment raise serious concerns about arbitrary arrest and detention, due process, the presumption of innocence, politically motivated judicial harassment, protection from mob violence, and the independence and security of lawyers in Bangladesh.
An individual’s actual or perceived political affiliation, or their provision of legal assistance to people facing political persecution, cannot in itself constitute evidence of criminal responsibility. Criminal liability must be established through independent and impartial judicial proceedings on the basis of credible, specific and individualised evidence.
It is particularly alarming that Advocate Bashar was reportedly assaulted before being handed over to the police, while the publicly available information does not establish whether those responsible for the assault have been identified or whether a criminal investigation has been opened.
A failure to investigate the reported assault and take appropriate legal action against those responsible would contribute to impunity, encourage further mob violence and undermine public confidence in the rule of law and the criminal justice system.
The Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees equality before the law, protection of the law, protection of life and personal liberty, and safeguards relating to arrest and detention. In particular, Article 27 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law; Article 31 guarantees the right to the protection of the law; Article 32 protects life and personal liberty; and Article 33 provides safeguards relating to arrest and detention.
Bangladesh is also a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Articles 9 and 14 of the ICCPR protect the right to liberty and security of person and provide fundamental guarantees relating to fair judicial proceedings.
Furthermore, the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers call on governments to ensure that lawyers can perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference, and that they are adequately safeguarded when their security is threatened as a result of carrying out those functions.
Lawyers must be able to perform their professional duties and exercise their fundamental freedoms without fear of physical violence, mob attacks, arbitrary arrest, politically motivated prosecution, intimidation or retaliation, regardless of their actual or perceived political affiliation.
In light of the above, JMBF respectfully requests that the Honourable Prime Minister:
- Take all appropriate steps to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Advocate Abul Bashar;
- Ensure the withdrawal of any politically motivated charges against Advocate Bashar and put an end to any judicial harassment, intimidation or retaliation against him on the basis of his actual or perceived political affiliation, opinions or professional activities;
- Ensure an independent, impartial, prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into the reported mob assault against Advocate Bashar on 16 September 2026, and ensure that everyone responsible for planning, instigating, facilitating or carrying out the assault is identified and brought to justice through due process of law;
- Ensure an independent and impartial review of the circumstances surrounding Advocate Bashar’s inclusion in the Anti-Terrorism Act case concerning the alleged procession of 31 July 2026, including whether credible, specific and individualised evidence connects him to the alleged offence;
- Ensure the preservation and independent examination of all relevant evidence, including CCTV footage, videos, photographs, mobile phone location information, digital records and witness testimony, to determine objectively whether Advocate Bashar participated in the alleged incident;
- Ensure the physical and psychological safety of Advocate Bashar and his family, and protect them from further violence, intimidation, harassment or retaliation;
- Take effective measures to prevent mob violence and ensure the prompt investigation and prosecution of those responsible for assaulting or unlawfully detaining people on the basis of their actual or perceived political affiliation;
- Ensure that no lawyer in Bangladesh is arrested, detained, prosecuted, assaulted, intimidated or otherwise persecuted solely because of their actual or perceived political affiliation or opinions, professional activities, associations, or the clients they represent; and
- Reaffirm the Government of Bangladesh’s commitment to the rule of law, due process, the presumption of innocence, protection against arbitrary arrest and detention, and the independence, dignity and security of the legal profession.
The rule of law requires allegations of criminal conduct to be investigated by competent authorities and determined through independent judicial proceedings based on credible evidence. Mob violence, political identity and public accusations cannot substitute for lawful investigation, evidence and due process.
JMBF respectfully urges your government to treat this matter with the utmost seriousness and take the necessary steps to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Advocate Abul Bashar, investigate the reported assault independently, hold those responsible accountable, and protect him from further harassment or retaliation.
A prompt and effective response would help protect the rights and security of lawyers and strengthen public confidence in the rule of law and the administration of justice in Bangladesh.
We respectfully request that information about any action taken in this matter be forwarded to the JMBF office for our records.
Yours sincerely,
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