BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Condemns Politically Motivated Cancellation of Lawyers’ Nominations in Munshiganj and Mymensingh

Paris, France | 17 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern, strong condemnation, and profound outrage over the recent pattern of irregularities, discriminatory treatment against legal professionals, cancellation of candidacies of pro-Awami League lawyers solely on the basis of political ideology, obstruction of their participation in elections, and police interference in the elections of various district bar associations across Bangladesh, including Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Jhalakathi, Khulna, Narail, and Sunamganj, under the tenure of the newly formed Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government.

TESTIMONY REPORT: Political Violence, Unlawful Detention, Irregularities in Police Custody, and Inhuman Conditions in Prison in Bangladesh

Paris, France | 16 April, 2026: This human rights report, based on victim testimony, documents a continuous pattern of alleged persecution experienced by a 35-year-old man, Mohammad Salauddin, from August to November 2024. He is a graduate-educated businessman from Chattogram who, prior to his arrest, was involved in business and supply trade and was politically active as Vice President of the Chattogram North District Chhatra League and General Secretary of Raozan Upazila Chhatra League. According to his account, from 5 August 2024 onward, he had been subjected to continuous surveillance, intimidation, and threats by political opponents. This pre-incident pattern became more pronounced through a violent attack on him in the Sholoshahar area of Chattogram on the night of 31 October 2024, his forcible detention, the looting of his assets, and his subsequent handover to the police.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over Obstruction to Participation of Pro-Awami League Lawyers in Bar Association Elections

Paris, France | 15 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern, strong condemnation, and protest over serious allegations in recent bar association elections in Dhaka, Shariatpur, Chandpur, Dinajpur, and Naogaon, where Bangladesh Awami League-aligned lawyers and independent candidates were obstructed from participating, prevented from submitting nomination papers, and, in some cases, even subjected to physical harassment solely due to their political ideology.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Expresses Deep Concern and Strongly Condemns the Killing of a Pir in Kushtia by an Islamist Extremist Mob

Paris, France | 12 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern, strong protest, and unequivocal condemnation over the brutal attack, arson, looting, and the merciless beating and hacking to death of Pir Shamim Reza, also known as Jahangir, at his shrine in Daulatpur, Kushtia on 11 April, following allegations of blasphemy by an Islamist extremist mob.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Condemns Escalating Attacks on LGBTQ+ Communities in Bangladesh

Paris, France | 11 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern, strong condemnation, and outrage over ongoing incidents of violence, harassment, arrests, and state impunity targeting gender and sexual minority communities, including gay and transgender individuals, in Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Expresses Deep Concern over the Passage of a Bill Granting Immunity from All Liabilities to July Protesters

Paris, France | 09 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern, strong condemnation, and firm protest over the passage of the “July Mass Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Bill, 2026” in the National Parliament of Bangladesh on 08 April 2026 by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government under Prime Minister Md. Tarique Rahman. The bill grants immunity from all forms of civil and criminal liabilities for acts committed by participants in the July–August 2024 uprising.

JMBF Launches Urgent Campaign to End and Criminalise Conversion Therapy in Bangladesh

Paris, France | 09 April 2026:  JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has launched an urgent campaign calling on the Government of Bangladesh to end and criminalise conversion therapy targeting LGBTQI+ individuals.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Calls for Repeal of the Bill Passed in Parliament Banning Bangladesh Awami League

Paris, France | 09 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern, alarm, and strong protest over the passage of the amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act on 8 April 2026 by the National Parliament of Bangladesh, which effectively imposes a permanent ban on Bangladesh Awami League—the largest, oldest, and historically significant political party that led the country’s War of Independence. This measure is not merely a political decision; rather, it is fundamentally inconsistent with the Constitution of Bangladesh, democratic principles, and international human rights standards. We consider this action to be a clearly politically motivated, repressive measure that constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental political rights of the people.

BANGLADESH ALERT: Deep Concern over Arbitrary Arrest and Due Process Violations in the Case of Former Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury

Paris, France | 8 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strong condemnation regarding the recent arrest, detention, and judicial treatment of lawyer, former Member of Parliament, and former Speaker of the National Parliament of Bangladesh, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. The circumstances surrounding her arrest and the legal proceedings against her raise serious and credible concerns about violations of due process, judicial fairness, and Bangladesh’s obligations under international human rights law.

URGENT APPEAL: Ensure Immediate Protection for Two Detained Lesbian Young Women in Jamalpur

Paris, France | 07 April 2026: A tenth-grade schoolgirl from Digpait D.K. School in Jamalpur Sadar and her neighbor voluntarily went into hiding on March 7 due to their mutual romantic relationship. In this regard, the minor girl’s mother, Mosammat Nazma Begum, filed a written complaint on March 7, 2026, at the Narayanpur Investigation Center, alleging that her daughter had been lured and abducted. After remaining in hiding for several days, family members contacted them via mobile phone and brought them back home. Upon their return, they were forced to separate from each other, but they refused to be apart and demanded to marry each other. At that time, the adult woman was reportedly subjected to physical abuse. Later, local residents informed the police, who arrived at the scene and took both individuals into custody at the police station.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Expulsion of a Transgender Woman from the Chhatra Dal Committee

Paris, France | April 6, 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns and expresses deep concern over the expulsion of Redwan Islam, Cultural Secretary of the Chhatra Dal at Syedabad Ideal College in Kasba Upazila, Brahmanbaria, from the institution’s student committee.

URGENT APPEAL: Investigate and take legal action over alleged human rights violations by the UNO in Badalgachhi.

Paris, 05 April 2026: The allegation that a common citizen in Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon district was forcibly detained, verbally abused, and physically assaulted on 1 April 2026 by Upazila Executive Officer Israt Jahan Chhni and AC Land’s driver Sumon Hossain for peacefully expressing his views is extremely concerning. This incident is not only an act of abuse against an individual—it is a direct violation of the Constitution of Bangladesh and international human rights law. In this regard, we urge you to take steps to send an urgent appeal to the concerned authorities for necessary action.

RECRUITMENT: Volunteer Research Assistant (Remote & Unpaid)

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is inviting applications from passionate and committed individuals to join our team as a Volunteer Research Assistant (Remote & Unpaid). This voluntary position aims to support documentation, research, and advocacy efforts related to human rights violations in Bangladesh.

STATEMENT: JMBF Condemns New Govt’s Threats to Democracy, Human Rights, and Judicial Independence

Paris, France | 03 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern, strong condemnation, and firm protest over the recommendations made on 02 April by the special committee of the National Parliament of Bangladesh to repeal the ordinances on the appointment of Supreme Court judges and the establishment of a Supreme Court Secretariat, which were enacted during the interim government. These recommendations constitute a direct assault on judicial independence and a clear attempt to weaken democratic governance.

JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter (January-March 2026)

The March 2026 edition (covering January to March) of the JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter reflects a period marked by both urgent human rights challenges and inspiring resilience. Throughout the first quarter of 2026, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has remained firmly committed to promoting justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights by amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and engaging with international stakeholders.

JMBF Statement on International Transgender Day of Visibility 2026

Paris, France | 31 March 2026: On the occasion of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stands in solidarity with transgender, hijra, and gender-diverse communities in Bangladesh and around the world. This day is both a celebration of courage, resilience, and identity, and a call to confront the persistent discrimination, exclusion, and violence faced by transgender people.

JMBF Annual State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh 2026

In 2025, LGBTQI+ individuals in Bangladesh continued to face systemic and multifaceted violence, reflecting entrenched social stigma and gaps in institutional protections. During the reporting period, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) documented 260 distinct incidents affecting 426 individuals nationwide. These incidents reportedly included physical assaults, harassment, blackmail, arbitrary detention, social ostracism, and other forms of discrimination carried out by both state and non-state actors.

PRESS RELEASE: JMBF Releases State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh 2026

Paris, France | 30 March 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has released its Annual Report 2026: “State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh under the Interim Government (January–December 2025)”, presenting a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals in Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over the Arrest of 2 Lawyers in Sunamganj

Paris, France | 27 March 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strongly condemns the arrest of two lawyers, Advocate Monish Kanti Dey (Mintu) and Advocate Mizanur Rahman (Shamim), and the filing of a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against 27 lawyers on 26 March, following an incident in Sunamganj where lawyers paid tribute to the martyrs on the occasion of Independence and National Day by placing wreaths at the memorial and chanting patriotic slogans.

JMBF Explores Collaboration with Prison Insider France on Prison Documentation in Bangladesh

Paris, France | 18 March 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) held a virtual meeting with Prison Insider, France, on 18 March 2026, marking a significant step toward potential collaboration on documenting prison conditions in Bangladesh.