Obstructing Bar Association Elections on Political Grounds: Is This the BNP Government’s Newly Invented Democracy?

Advocate Shahanur Islam

Throughout Bangladesh’s history, whenever democracy has weakened, the first blows have fallen upon its institutions. The judiciary, universities, the media, and professional organizations have gradually been transformed into testing grounds for political loyalty. What is currently unfolding within the country’s bar associations is merely a new version of the same dangerous trend established during the previous interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Condemns Persecution of Students in Dhaka Over Allegations of Homosexuality

Paris, France | 15 May 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the detention, mental torture, handover to police, sentencing through a mobile court, and cancellation of dormitory seats of several students at the Government Unani and Ayurvedic Medical College in Dhaka on allegations of “homosexuality.” JMBF states that this incident constitutes a clear violation of the fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Bangladesh and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organization therefore calls for an immediate, impartial investigation and appropriate legal action against those responsible for these human rights violations.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Condemns Exclusion of 39 Pro-Awami League Lawyers from Gazipur Bar Election

Paris, France | 14 May 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the reported denial of nomination papers to 39 lawyers seeking to contest the 2026 Gazipur District Bar Association election as independent candidates on the basis of their alleged political affiliation with the Bangladesh Awami League on 10 May 2026. The election is scheduled to be held on 21 May 2026.

JMBF Founder President Attends International Day Against LGBTphobia Event in Paris, France

Paris, France | 11 May 2026: Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), Advocate Shahanur Islam, attended the International Day Against LGBTphobia event organized by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs at the historic Quai d'Orsay in Paris on Monday, 11 May 2026.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Strongly Condemns Obstruction Against Pro-Awami League Lawyers in Upcoming CDBA Election

Paris, France | 10 May 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the reported obstruction, intimidation, and assault on pro-Awami League lawyers during the nomination process for the upcoming election of the Chattogram District Bar Association (CDBA) on 4 May 2026.

JMBF Statement on World Press Freedom Day 2026

Paris, France | May 3, 2026: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2026, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound solidarity with journalists in Bangladesh who continue to endure intimidation, harassment, arbitrary detention, and unjust imprisonment for the legitimate exercise of their professional duties.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over the Cancellation of 42 Pro-AL Lawyer Nominations in SCBA Polls

Paris, France | 28 April, 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the decision of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to cancel the nomination papers of more than 42 lawyers allegedly affiliated with the Awami League, effectively barring them from contesting the upcoming SCBA elections scheduled for May 13–14, 2026.

STATEMENT: Call to Action to Dr. Alice Edwards, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, on Her Visit to Bangladesh

Paris, France | 25 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) welcomes the visit of Dr. Alice Edwards, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, to Bangladesh at a significant moment in the country’s ongoing political transition.

During her visit, JMBF respectfully encourages Dr. Edwards to engage constructively with a broad range of civil society actors and to support efforts to strengthen a comprehensive anti-torture and human rights framework, grounded in the principles of inclusivity, independence, and impartiality.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Expresses Strong Condemnation over the Recovery of a Half-Burnt Hanging Body of a Hindu Temple Priest in Cox’s Bazar

Paris, France | 24 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern, strong condemnation, and outrage over the recovery of the half-burnt and hanging body of Hindu temple priest Nayan Sadhur, three days after he went missing from the Khurushkul area of Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday, 22 April.

JMBF Participates in the 26th “Printemps des Assoces” in Paris

Paris, 20 April 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) participated in the 26th edition of the “Printemps des Assoces,” organized by Inter-LGBT, a leading coalition of LGBTQI+ organizations in Paris. The event was held on 18 and 19 April 2026 at the Halle des Blancs Manteaux, located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.

URGENT APPEAL: Call for Appropriate Action Concerning the Torture of a Caretaker by DB Police in Pirojpur

Paris, France | 19 April 2026: In Pirojpur, Md. Yunus Fakir, a long-serving caretaker at a police officers’ mess, has allegedly been brutally tortured by Detective Branch (DB) police over accusations of theft. He was reportedly unlawfully detained, physically assaulted, and subjected to inhuman treatment, including torture by pouring melted candle wax on his genitalia. Even after the real thief was identified, the victim was denied proper medical treatment and was allegedly forced to provide false explanations about his injuries to doctors.