JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF): ARBITRARY ARREST

Showing posts with label ARBITRARY ARREST. Show all posts

Sunday, October 19, 2025

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over Violence and Arbitrary Arrests of the Hijra (Third Gender) Community in Chattogram and Narayanganj

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Paris, France; 19 October 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the brutal attacks and arbitrary arrests of members of the Hijra (third gender) community on 10 September in Boalkhali, Chattogram, and on 17 September in Rupganj, Narayanganj.

JMBF calls for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators, as well as the unconditional release of the arrested Hijras and the withdrawal of all false cases filed against them.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF expresses deep concern and strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of six lawyers in Naogaon and Dhaka.

Paris, France; 16 October 2025: Human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is strongly alarmed and condemns the recent arbitrary arrest, re-arrest, and imprisonment of six senior lawyers in Naogaon and Dhaka on false and fabricated charges filed under the July assassination attempt, Explosive Substances Act, and Anti-Terrorism Act, solely for conducting professional activities and for holding differing political opinions. JMBF also demands the immediate release of the arrested and detained lawyers and the unconditional withdrawal of all cases filed against them.

How the Yunus-Led Interim Government Has Turned Justice into a Tool of Political Repression in Bangladesh

By Advocate Shahanur Islam

I. The Criminalization of Law and Lawyers

It began, as so many stories of injustice do, with a courtroom and a promise of fairness that never came.

Instead of being released on bail granted by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, on 4 September 2025, Khodadad Khan Pitu (60), former President of the Naogaon District Bar Association and President of the Human Rights Lawyers’ Forum, Naogaon, was re-arrested by Naogaon Sadar police from the gate of Naogaon District Jail. On 5 September, he was produced before the court in connection with a 2024 case filed over an incident in 2022 under the Explosive Substances Act, and the court ordered him sent to jail.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Expresses Deep Concern Over Re-Arrest of 10 High Court-Bailed Lawyers at Jail Gate on Sabotage Charges in Barguna

Paris, France; 24 September 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep anger and condemnation over the re-arrest of 10 lawyers in Barguna who had secured bail from the High Court. On 15 September, just as they were about to be released, they were re-arrested at the jail gate on charges of sabotage and sent back to prison.

JMBF firmly believes that this incident constitutes a blatant violation of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and human rights in Bangladesh, and reflects clear political retaliation. Such actions not only undermine justice and democracy but also seriously threaten the safety and professional independence of lawyers, with a deeply negative impact on Bangladesh’s democratic system and human rights situation.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned and Strongly Condemns the Imprisonment of 12 Pro-Awami Lawyers in Barguna

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down and click ‘More’

Paris, France | 4 September 2025: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation over the rejection of bail petitions and the subsequent imprisonment of 12 pro-Awami League lawyers on 2 September 2025 in Barguna, carried out with the sole intention of obstructing the professional duties of lawyers through politically motivated actions.

JMBF firmly believes that this incident constitutes a clear violation of the Bangladesh Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, all of which guarantee the fundamental right of lawyers to professional independence. This development poses a grave threat to the rule of law, democracy, and national security in Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF expresses deep concern and strongly condemns recent attacks, arrests, and fabricated cases against 19 lawyers across various districts in the country.

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down and click ‘More’

Paris, France | 02 September 2025: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound concern and strong condemnation of these incidents of escalating attacks, arrests, fabricated cases, and harassment of lawyers across several districts in Bangladesh, solely due to the mere fulfillment of professional duties and political beliefs.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over Attack and Arbitrary Arrest of Former Minister, University Professor, Journalists, and Prominent Citizens at Discussion in Dhaka

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Paris, France; 29 August 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest concern and strongly condemns the violent attack and arbitrary arrest of former Minister and Member of Parliament Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Department of Law, along with journalist Monjurul Alam Panna and other eminent citizens, by anti-liberation fundamentalist miscreants on 28 August 2025. This occurred during the roundtable discussion titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh” organized by Manch 71 at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

This attack was reportedly carried out with the direct backing of the current interim government. The participants were obstructed, handed over to the police, and later subjected to arbitrary arrest under false charges filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act before being sent to jail custody.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over Arbitrary Arrest of 5 Lawyers and Fabricated Cases Against 12 in Barguna, Satkhira, Gazipur, Bogura, and Gopalganj

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Paris, France; 01 August 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, expresses its deep concern and strong protest over the recent politically motivated and arbitrary arrests and detention of five respected lawyers, as well as the filing of false cases against twelve others in various districts of Bangladesh—namely Barguna, Satkhira, Gazipur, Bogura, and Gopalganj—solely for carrying out their professional duties and holding differing political opinions.

JMBF firmly believes that targeting lawyers solely because of their professional conduct or political beliefs constitutes a clear and blatant violation of the fundamental human rights enshrined by the United Nations.

BANGLADESH ALERT: Arrest of Former Chief Justice A. B. M. Khairul Haque — A Direct Blow to Judicial Independence

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Paris, France; July 25, 2025 — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, expresses deep concern and strong protest over the arrest of Bangladesh’s former Chief Justice A. B. M. Khairul Haque on July 24, 2025, from Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, on charges related to a murder during last year’s July coup, and the absence of any legal representation on his behalf in court.

JMBF firmly believes that the filing of a politically motivated murder case and the arrest of a former Chief Justice—who solely performed his judicial duties per the Constitution—constitutes a blatant violation of judicial independence, fundamental principles of justice, and the rule of law.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over Arbitrary Arrests of 5 Respected Lawyers in Naogaon, Rangpur, Patuakhali, Manikganj, and Moulvibazar; Demands Immediate Release!

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down and click ‘More’.

Paris, France; 22 July 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern over the recent arbitrary and unjust arrests of lawyers in Bangladesh. The growing trend of filing false cases, implicating lawyers in politically motivated charges, and denying them bail—leading to imprisonment—is a grave threat to professional independence. These actions constitute a clear violation of the Constitution of Bangladesh, international human rights laws, and the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.

JMBF firmly believes that lawyers are fundamental pillars in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice in a democratic society.

State-Sponsored Massacre in Gopalganj: A Human Rights Catastrophe Behind the Mask of the Yunus Administration

By Advocate Shahanur Islam

July 16, 2025, will be remembered as another blood-stained black day in Bangladesh’s history. On this day, under the command of the interim government led by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus—an administration that came to power promising rule of law, democracy, and human rights—the military, alongside the police, opened fire on unarmed civilians in Gopalganj. At least five people were killed and over a hundred injured, with many still reported missing.

They did not stop with the killings and injuries; rather, they snatched the fundamental rights of Gopalganj’s people by imposing a curfew since the day of the violence.

BANGLADESH: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over Repressive Cases Against 55 Senior Lawyers of Gazipur District Bar, Imprisonment of Two Seniors, and Interference with Professional Independence

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down and click ‘More’.

Paris, France; July 1, 2025: The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned and alarmed that at least 55 experienced and senior lawyers of the Gazipur District Bar have faced more than 70 cases filed from August 2024 to June 2025. These cases arose in the context of student and mass movements during July-August 2024, accusing them of “murder,” “terrorism,” and “anti-state activities.”

Most of the accused have long held leadership roles within the Gazipur District Bar, serving as important pillars of the judicial system and performing their professional duties with honor.