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.

JMBF Report 2025: Crackdown Against Independence of Lawyers in Bangladesh under Interim Government

JMBF Report 2025-Crackdown on Independence of Lawyers in Bangladesh under Interim Government by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)

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).” 

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned and Strongly Condemns the Murder of Journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur

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Paris, France; 8 August 2025: The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deep concern, strong condemnation, and outrage over the brutal hacking to death of Protidiner Kagoj’s Gazipur staff reporter, Asaduzzaman Tuhin, in the Chandna Chowrasta area of Gazipur city on the night of Thursday, 7 August 2025. JMBF considers this incident a naked assault on press freedom and a blatant violation of human rights.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over the Brutal Killing of Gay Man Rafiqul Islam in Gazipur

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

Paris, France; 26 July 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a Paris-based human rights organization, expresses grave concern and strongly condemns the premeditated and brutal murder of Mr. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, a gay man, in Gazipur on the night of 19 July 2025.

JMBF firmly believes that the deliberate killing of Rafiqul Islam solely based on his sexual orientation constitutes a gross violation of fundamental human rights and human dignity.

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Condemns the Brutal Murder of Gay Electrician Parvez Hasan and Urges Immediate Action to End Violence Against the LGBT+ Community

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Paris, France; 13 July 2025: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strongly condemns the brutal murder of gay electrician Parvez Hasan (35) in Rupganj, Narayanganj, widely recognized as a hate crime rooted in his sexual orientation.

JMBF firmly believes that murdering a person solely because of their same-sex relationship constitutes a grave violation of existing laws, the Constitution of Bangladesh, and the fundamental human rights enshrined by the United Nations.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Politically Motivated Case Against 20 Eminent Lawyers and Former Justice of the Bangladesh Supreme Court

"Veuillez lire la version française ci-dessous."

Paris, France | May 5, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights and legal advocacy organization, expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation over the politically motivated and fabricated murder case filed on April 20, 2025, against twenty lawyers, including a former Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik. The case implicates a total of 408 individuals—among them journalists, artists, government officials, teachers, and politicians—accused in connection with the death of Mahfuz Alam Srabon, a BNP activist, during the July Mass Uprising in Mirpur, Dhaka.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Recent Fabrication of Cases Against 30 Journalists in the Wake of the July Student Movement

"Veuillez lire la version française ci-dessous."

Paris, France | May 4, 2025: France-based human rights watchdog, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), expresses grave concern and unequivocal condemnation over the recent filing of two politically motivated and fabricated cases against 30 journalists, including 10 named in both cases, on false charges of murder and attempted murder related to the July 2024 student uprising in Bangladesh. These cases were filed on April 20 and March 20, 2025, respectively.

Pourquoi le gouvernement Yunus au Bangladesh cible-t-il systématiquement et brutalement les avocats?

Par l’Avocat Shahanur Islam

Dans une initiative sans précédent et profondément alarmante, le gouvernement intérimaire du Bangladesh, dirigé par l’ancien lauréat du prix Nobel de la paix, le Professeur Muhammad Yunus, a lancé une campagne systémique visant directement la communauté juridique du pays. Selon les documents de JusticeMakers Bangladesh en France (JMBF), depuis son arrivée au pouvoir en août 2024, l’administration Yunus a orchestré une série inquiétante d’arrestations politiquement motivées, de charges fabriquées, de meurtres, de prises de contrôle forcées du Barreau du Bangladesh et d’autres associations de barreaux de districts, ainsi que d’attaques physiques ciblant les avocats. 

Plus de 391 professionnels du droit font actuellement face à de fausses accusations telles que des meurtres et des explosions d’explosifs. Plus de 131 ont déjà été arrêtés, certains détenus sans aucune inculpation, uniquement pour leurs activités professionnelles et leurs opinions politiques, tandis que beaucoup d’autres ont été victimes d’abus, de menaces et de harcèlement. Ce à quoi nous assistons n’est pas une série d’incidents isolés, mais une attaque délibérée et orchestrée contre l’état de droit et l’indépendance même du système judiciaire du Bangladesh.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Gravely Concerned Over the Politically Motivated Brutal Killing of Lawyer Sujon Mia in Moulvibazar

Paris, France; April 8, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, expresses its deepest outrage and unequivocal condemnation of the brutal and cowardly murder of Advocate Sujon Mia, a practicing lawyer at the Moulvibazar District Judge Court. He was fatally stabbed on the night of April 6, 2025, in what appears to be a politically motivated targeted killing.

This heinous act, committed in public under the watch of the current interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, reflects a grave deterioration of law and order and exposes the abysmal state of protection for legal professionals in Bangladesh today.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Heinous Murder of Transgender Activist Shila in Rangamati: Calls for Immediate Justice and Legal Reforms

(বাংলায় বিবৃতিটি পড়তে, অনুগ্রহপূর্বক ইংরেজি ভার্ষণের শেষে দেখুন) Paris, France | February 06, 2025: France-based hulan rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned and outraged by the barbaric and targeted murder of transgender activist Shila, who was brutally killed in her home in Betbunia, Rangamati district, on February 3, 2025. Shila was a courageous advocate for transgender rights, a champion of social justice, and a beacon of hope for marginalized transgender communities in Bangladesh. Her horrific murder—marked by extreme violence and a clear intent to silence her voice—is a gross violation of human rights and demands immediate and uncompromising action.

JMBF unequivocally condemns this cowardly and premeditated act of terror, which not only took the life of a fearless activist but also sent a chilling message to the entire transgender and LGBT+ community. This crime underscores the deep-rooted discrimination, systemic violence, and impunity that sexual minorities continue to face in Bangladesh due to social stigma, legal barriers, and state negligence.

Statement: JMBF Calls for Adequate Investigation into the Alleged Murder of Mau Hijra in Jessore

Paris, France; January 2, 2025: France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), is deeply appalled and outraged by the suspicious and tragic death of Mau Hijra in Jessore, Bangladesh, which appears to be a premeditated act of murder disguised as a natural death on December 1, 2024.

JMBF believes that such abhorrent acts not only represent a blatant violation of human dignity but also highlight the rampant impunity and discrimination faced by marginalized communities, particularly the Hijra community in Bangladesh.

The organization asserts that the allegations against Mau Hijra's house owner, Fateh Begum, along with her associates—who are accused of orchestrating her death and looting her possessions—demand an immediate and uncompromising investigation.

STATEMENT: JMBF is Deeply Concerned and Condemns the Killing of Lawyer Saiful Islam and Police Brutality During Protests in Chittagong

Paris, France; November 28, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally expresses its deep concern and condemnation of the brutal killing of lawyer Saiful Islam, a 32-year-old member of the Chattogram District Bar Association and Assistant Public Prosecutor at the Chattogram Court, during the violent clashes on November 26, 2024. This heinous crime, committed amid a chaotic confrontation between law enforcement and protesters supporting Hindu religious leader and Spokesperson of the United Sanatoni Jagoran Alliance, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, is a grave attack on justice and the legal community.

JMBF also strongly denounces police brutality during the protests, where law enforcement agencies, including the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), resorted to batons and sound grenades, injuring at least 10 people. The indiscriminate violence against protesters is a clear violation of their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and expression. Such actions only exacerbate tensions and undermine the rule of law.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Murder of Transgender Woman Ayub Ali in Tangail, Bangladesh

Paris, France; October 17, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) condemns in the strongest possible terms the tragic and senseless murder of Ayub Ali, a 47-year-old transgender woman, who was brutally killed on October 12, 2024, in Tangail, Bangladesh. Her body, bearing clear signs of violence, was discovered the following morning in an abandoned house near the microbus stand in the new bus stand area of Tangail. The police found a cloth tightly wrapped around her neck, with evidence of struggle, suggesting that she may have been strangled. A murder case has been filed, and investigations are underway to bring those responsible to justice.

Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Recent Killing of Former Student League Leaders at Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, and Rajshahi Universities by Mob Justice

Paris, France – September 20, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound concern and outrage over the rise in political violence in Bangladesh, particularly the targeted attacks on members of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliates. These violent incidents, which have escalated since the interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed power, are being perpetrated under the banner of the so-called "Anti-Discrimination Student-Citizen Movement," driven by extremist factions including Jamaat, BNP, Hefazat-e-Islam, and their militant student wings.

STATEMENT: JMBF Gravely Concerned Over Politically Motivated Murder Case Filed Against Several Prominent Lawyers

Paris, France; September 04, 2024 — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the politically motivated charges filed against a group of highly respected legal professionals, including former Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed, former Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tania Amir, and others in connection with the killing of a student protester on September 1, 2024.

STATEMENT: JMBF Demands Justice for the Brutal Murder of Transgender Woman Mangali alias Poly in Jessore

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest sorrow and strongest condemnation of the horrific murder of Mangali alias Poly, a 35-year-old transgender woman in Machna Mahalpara in Jessore, Bangladesh, by her boyfriend on June 28, 2024.

JMBF demands justice for Poly and calls upon the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The swift arrest and confession of Babu Hossain must be followed by a thorough investigation and a fair trial to bring justice to Poly and her family.

According to news published in various Bangladeshi media outlets, JMBF learned that on June 28, 2024, early Friday morning, a transgender woman named Mangali alias Poly (35) was brutally killed by her boyfriend, Babu Hossain, by slitting her throat in the Manirampur police station area of Jessore district. The police recovered her body from Machna Mahalpara of Khanpur Union in the upazila around 8 PM the same day. The deceased, Mangali alias Poly (35), was the daughter of the late Khalek Gazi from Machna Gazipara village in the same district.

Statement: JMBF Condemns Brutal Murder of Transgender Reshma Khatun, Calls for Swift Action and Legal Reforms

Paris, France; April 03, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern over the brutal murder of Reshma Khatun (25), a third-gender individual, whose decomposed body was discovered in March 2024 in the Kagajpukur graveyard of Benapole Port Police Station in Jessore, Bangladesh.

The France-based rights organization calls for the swift identification and apprehension of those responsible for this heinous act through a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation, followed by exemplary punishment after a fair trial.

According to news published in various newspapers in Bangladesh, it has been learned that the police recovered the decomposed body of Reshma Khatun (25), a third gender individual, from the Kagajpukur graveyard of Benapole Port Police Station in Jessore.

Statement : JMBF Strongly Condemns Brutal Murder of Gay Teacher Golam Kibria in Savar, Dhaka

Paris, France: August 20, 2023 – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally condemns the tragic and heinous murder of Golam Kibria, a gay school teacher and member of the sexual minority community, in Savar, Dhaka, allegedly by the individuals associated with extremist Islamic ideologies.

The organization expresses profound concern over this act of violence and demands an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter. JMBF insists on an impartial and expeditious inquiry, followed by a transparent trial, to ensure that the perpetrators responsible for this grave crime are brought to justice.

PRESS STATEMENT:JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) Condemns the Tragic Demise of Bangladeshi Lawyer Lutful Kabir

[Paris, France: 21st July 2023] JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the untimely and tragic demise of lawyer Mr. Lutful Kabir Nowroz, whose lifeless body was found in a pond in Khulna's Batiaghata upazila on Sunday evening, 16th July 2023.

Lutful Kabir Nowroz, 58, served as the Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Anti-Corruption Special Tribunal in Khulna, southern Bangladesh, dedicating his life to upholding justice and fighting against corruption. His sudden disappearance and subsequent discovery in the pond have shocked the entire legal community and brought immense sorrow to all those who knew and worked with him.