Press and Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Obstruction of Democratic Participation in Chattogram Bar Election Under the Present Interim Government

Paris, France; April 12, 2025 — France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), expresses grave concern and unequivocal condemnation over the blatant obstruction of democratic rights witnessed in the 2025 Chattogram District Bar Association election. On April 10, lawyers aligned with the Awami League and other left-leaning parties were deliberately barred from collecting nomination forms by a group of BNP-Jamaat affiliated lawyers, effectively disenfranchising all opposition candidates. The resulting uncontested election of BNP-Jamaat candidates for all 21 posts stands as a clear violation of constitutional, legal, and human rights standards.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF is Deeply Concerned Over the Politically Motivated, Fabricated Cases Against 291 Prominent Lawyers in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Comilla

Paris, France; March 21, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization committed to advancing human rights and upholding the rule of law, strongly condemns the politically motivated and fabricated charges filed against 291 prominent lawyers across multiple incidents in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Comilla. These highly respected legal professionals, known for their legal expertise and advocacy for justice, have been targeted by malicious and politically driven cases aimed at suppressing their voices and discrediting their professionalism.

JMBF asserts that the charges filed against these individuals include severe accusations such as murder, attempted murder, assault, bomb explosions, detonating explosives, vandalizing vehicles, and involvement in violent attacks on peaceful student protesters. These accusations are completely baseless and part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the integrity of the legal profession in Bangladesh. JMBF urges the government of Bangladesh to immediately drop the charge against those lawyers.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Rising Threats and Attacks on Cultural and Artistic Freedom in Bangladesh

Paris, France; February 18, 2025 — France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), strongly condemns the alarming rise in censorship, intimidation, and violent obstruction of cultural events in Bangladesh under the current interim government led by Nobel Laureate for Peace, Prof. Mohammad Yunus. The recent forced cancellations of the Dhaka Metropolitan Theater Festival, Proma's Spring Recitation Festival in Chattogram, the National Spring Festival in Uttara, and the Lalon Memorial Festival in Tangail are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a troubling pattern of suppression targeting artistic expression and fundamental human rights by radical Islamic fundamentalist groups.

JMBF asserts that the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees freedom of speech, cultural diversity, and the right to peaceful assembly. However, the blatant disregard for these rights, as seen in these incidents, represents a direct attack on the nation's democratic values. The forced shutdowns of these events, often under threats of violence and pressure from extremist groups, reveal a dangerous shift toward intolerance, eroding the artistic and intellectual freedom that has long defined Bangladesh's rich cultural landscape.

Statement: JMBF Expresses Grave Concern Over Harassment and Abuse of Minority Communities in Chittagong

Paris, France; December 30, 2024:  France-based human rights organisation JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern over the widespread harassment, extortion, and abuse of power targeting vulnerable Hindu religious and Dalit minority communities in Chittagong. These actions, perpetrated by law enforcement under the guise of investigating the tragic murder of lawyer Saiful Islam (Alif) at the Chittagong court premises, reveal a lack of impartiality and fairness in the investigative process.  

JMBF strongly urges the government to ensure the safety, dignity, and protection of marginalized groups, including the Harijan community. The incidents of vandalism, harassment, and communal violence following the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam must be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators must be held accountable without delay.

STATEMENT: JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerns over the attacked on CEO of BELA

The Bangladeshi human rights organisation ,JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concerns over the incident of attacks on environmental lawyer and chief executive officer of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer Association (BELA), Syeda Rizwana Hasan and her team at Chittagong on 26 January 2023.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh simultaneously called the government for arrest the all accuseds and ensure the exemplary punishment to the culprits after quick and impartial investigation and trail.