BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Condemns Threats to Defense Lawyer at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; 26 November 2025: Human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation over the public threats made to the defense lawyer of an accused at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam on 23 November 2025, during a hearing concerning enforced disappearance cases.

JMBF Confirms Swiss Journalist Charlotte Jacquemart as Adviser

Paris,France; 19 November 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has officially approved Ms. Charlotte Jacquemart, a distinguished Swiss journalist and human rights advocate, to serve as Adviser to the organization under Article 13.1 of its constitution. The confirmation was made on 15 November 2025 during JMBF’s executive meeting, marking a significant strengthening of the organization’s leadership team.

Ms. Jacquemart brings more than two decades of experience in investigative journalism, human rights advocacy, and ethical media practices. A veteran journalist at Swiss Public Radio (SRF) since 2017, she is widely recognized for her commitment to human rights, democratic values, social justice, and freedom of expression—including press freedom, artistic expression, and opinion rights.

BANGLADESH ALERT: Death Sentences Against Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina - A Cruel Manifestation of Farce and Political Vendetta in the Name of Justice

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France | 17 November 2025: The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the death sentences handed down today, 17 November, by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman. JMBF considers this a catastrophic judicial failure, a blatant manifestation of state vendetta, and an act that undermines the very concept of the rule of law.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned and Strongly Condemns the Brutal Police Attack on Peaceful Teachers’ Protest in Dhaka

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France | 09 November 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses profound concern and strongly condemns the brutal and unjustified police attack on primary school teachers who were peacefully demonstrating in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area on 8 November, demanding the fulfillment of their three-point charter.

JMBF firmly believes that such violent repression of teachers is not only inhumane but also constitutes a clear violation of the fundamental constitutional rights to assembly, expression, and peaceful protest, as well as a direct violation of international human rights standards, particularly Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

JOINT STATEMENT: Crackdown Against the Independence of Lawyers in Bangladesh Under the Interim Government

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France/ Belgium/ Poland/ Egypt/ Thailand/ Kazakhstan/ India; November 5, 2025: The JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the National Bar Council (CNB), the International Observatory of Lawyers at Risk (OIAD), the Arrested Lawyers Initiative, the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP), the International Association of People’s Lawyers – Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers, the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), the Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), the 'NEVER AGAIN' Association, the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), the Public Association Dignity, the Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI), the Solidarité Internationale LGBTQI (SIL) and the Families of the Disappeared (FOD) express grave concern over the contineous politically motivated repression against the independence of the legal community in Bangladesh under the current Interim Government.

Statement by JMBF on the 11th International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

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Paris, France; November 02, 2025: Today, on the occasion of the 11th International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) solemnly calls on the interim government of Bangladesh, led by the Nobel Laureate for Peace, to immediately halt and reverse the systematic assault on press freedom and the safety of journalists within its jurisdiction.

JMBF expresses grave concern that a relentless crackdown is being mounted on journalists, media workers, and women journalists in particular under the current interim administration in Bangladesh.

Although the current interim government initiated the Media Reform Commission to protect the rights of journalists, the guardians of democratic discourse, state apparatuses are being used to intimidate, harass, prosecute, and silence independent voices.

PRESS RELEASE: JMBF Releases 2025 Report on Crackdown Against Independence of Lawyers in Bangladesh under the Interim Government

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংবাদ বিজ্ঞপ্তি পড়ার জন্য নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” « Faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur “More” pour lire le communiqué de presse complet en français. »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paris, October 30, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), with the technical support of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), today released its groundbreaking report,“JMBF Report 2025: Crackdown Against Independence of Lawyers in Bangladesh under the Interim Government (August 2024 – September 2025).” 

Why the World’s Diplomats Stay Silent as Bangladesh Bleeds?

By Advocate Shahanur Islam

When Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as head of the country’s interim government in August 2024, millions dared to hope. After years of authoritarian rule and blood-soaked repression, people believed the nightmare was ending. They hoped that Yunus, a global symbol of microcredit, would deliver good governance, rule of law, accountability, and respect for human rights.

Fourteen months later, those hopes are shattered. The violence never stopped; it only changed hands, and some forms of violence have increased dramatically. Although this new wave of repression continues, the foreign diplomatic missions in Dhaka, so vocal in preaching democratic values during the previous tenure have chosen silence.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Strongly Condemns Brutal Police Attacks on Peaceful Assembly of Jatio Party and MPO Teachers in Dhaka

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; 13 October 2025: The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the recent brutal police attacks on peaceful political and social gatherings in Dhaka.

On 11 October, a peaceful political assembly of the Jatio Party at Kakrail More in the capital was violently disrupted by police. The following day, on 12 October, a peaceful protest by MPO-registered teachers in front of the National Press Club, demanding their legitimate rights, was attacked with sound grenades and baton charges, leaving many Jatio Party activists and several teachers bloodied and injured.

PRESS RELEASE: JMBF Statement on the 23rd World Day Against the Death Penalty

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; October 10, 2025: On Friday, 10 October, the 23rd World Day Against the Death Penalty, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) calls upon the Bangladeshi government to urgently reconsider its continued use of capital punishment. The number of prisoners on death row in Bangladesh has risen sharply over the years: from 1,009 in November 2011 to over 2,000 in June 2021, with at least 169+ death sentences in 2022 and 248+ in 2023. In 2025, more than 2,400 individuals currently remain on death row. These figures reflect systemic issues, including trials plagued by delays, inadequate legal representation, and procedural irregularities, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned and Strongly Condemns Continuous Threats and Attacks Against JMBF Secretary General Advocate Mohammad Alamgir

"Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; October 09, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest concern and strongest condemnation over the continuous threats, intimidation, and violent attacks directed against Advocate Mohammad Alamgir, the respected Secretary General of JMBF, for his courageous and professional engagement in defending victims of persecution, including members of the LGBTQI+ community, and for upholding the rule of law and justice in Bangladesh.

Over the past year, Advocate Alamgir has been repeatedly subjected to life-threatening attacks, harassment, and extortion demands by individuals and groups affiliated with BNP–Jamaat and Islamic fundamentalist elements, who have sought to silence him for his unwavering commitment to human rights and justice.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Strongly Condemns and Protests the Killing of 3 Indigenous Youths in Kharachhari During Anti-Rape Protest

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; 8 October 2025: Paris-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and outrage over the killing of three indigenous teenagers and the serious injury of at least 14 others during a protest in Guimara Upazila, Kharachhari district, Bangladesh, on 28 September. The protest was held against the rape of a hill girl. This incident is a horrifying example of the severe deterioration of human rights and state repression in Bangladesh.

JMBF strongly believes that despite the fact that the perpetrators were not arrested or punished, the firing upon peaceful anti-rape protesters is illegal, inhumane, and contrary to the Constitution and international human rights law.

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.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) Joins the Plateforme Droits de l’Homme (PDH)

Paris, France; October 4, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) received formal membership in the Plateforme Droits de l’Homme (PDH), a collective of French NGOs dedicated to promoting and defending human rights internationally, on October 1, 2025.

The PDH, established in 2017, provides a vital space for collaboration, exchange, and mutual support among French NGOs engaged in international human rights work. By joining PDH, JMBF aims to strengthen its connections with other civil society actors, enhance its visibility, and contribute to collective efforts in advocacy and human rights promotion.

JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: July-September 2025

11. JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: July-September 2025 by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)

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

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

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 Expresses Deep Concern and Strong Protest Over the Death of Awami League Leader in Gaibandha Jail Due to Torture and Medical Negligence

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; 23 September 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has expressed deep concern over the death of Abu Bakkar Siddiq Munna, former Vice-President and former Chairman of Kanchipara Union, Fulchhari Upazila, Awami League, allegedly due to torture and medical negligence while in Gaibandha District Jail in the early morning of 22 September 2025.

JMBF firmly believes that this planned killing, carried out through politically motivated torture and denial of medical care, constitutes a gross violation of fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh and international human rights declarations.

BANGLADESH ALERT: Deaths of Two Detainees in Sylhet and Moulvibazar Custody of RAB and PBI – JMBF Expresses Deep Concern and Strong Condemnation

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; September 17,  2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the deaths of two detainees in the custody of law enforcement agencies in Sylhet and Moulvibazar on 14 and 15 September 2025.

JMBF firmly believes that the deaths of these detainees in the custody of specialized units, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), are not only a threat to the rule of law and the judicial system in Bangladesh, but also constitute a gross violation of the Bangladesh Constitution and fundamental human rights as enshrined by the United Nations. These incidents pose a serious threat to Bangladesh’s international human rights commitments.

URGENT APPEAL: JMBF’s Call on the Occasion of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights Delegation Visit to Bangladesh

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down.

Honorable Members,

Greetings from JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based independent, non-profit, and non-political human rights organization, established under the framework of the United Nations Human Rights Charter (Bill of Rights).

On the occasion of your visit to Bangladesh from 16 to 18 September 2025, JMBF expresses deep concern over the extremely serious violations and deterioration of law and order, economic conditions, and human rights under the interim government of Bangladesh, currently led by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

STATEMENT: JMBF Calls for the Withdrawal of the Death Penalty Provision in the Proposed Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down.

Paris, France; 10 September 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern over the incorporation of the death penalty as the maximum punishment in the proposed Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law, approved by the Interim Government of Bangladesh Advisory Council in its meeting on 28 August 2025, which is clearly contrary to fundamental human rights principles.

While strict legislation is necessary to prevent serious crimes such as enforced disappearances, JMBF firmly believes that the death penalty is never justifiable under any justice system. Capital punishment stands in direct contradiction to the principles of human rights, the right to life, and justice. It allows no scope for remedy and, in cases of wrongful conviction, causes irreparable harm.