JOINT STATEMENT: Granting Impunity for Criminal Offences Committed during the July Uprising in Bangladesh-A Grave Threat to Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law

France/Netherlands/Egypt/Australia/Kazakhstan/Uganda/Pakistan/Tunisia/Cameroon/DRC I February 10, 2026: 

We, the undersigned 10 international, national, and local human rights organizations, i) JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), France, ii) Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), Netherlands, iii) Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession (ACIJLP), Egypt, iv) Public Association “Dignity”, Kazakhstan,

The July Mass Uprising Ordinance 2026: Legalized Impunity and a Catastrophe for Justice in Bangladesh

By Advocate Shahanur Islam

On 25 January 2026, the Government of Bangladesh issued the July Mass Uprising (Protection and Determination of Liability) Ordinance, 2026, a presidential decree that grants sweeping immunity to all participants in the July 2024 uprising. According to the ordinance, all civil and criminal cases filed against the participants are to be withdrawn, no new cases may be filed, and ongoing proceedings are to be stayed upon application. Even in cases of serious criminal allegations, including murder, the ordinance transfers the investigative responsibility from the judiciary to the National Human Rights Commission, while simultaneously shielding current and former law enforcement personnel from accountability in certain circumstances.