Press & Public Statement: JMBF Gravely Concerned Over Mass Arrests of Opposition Political Activists in Operation Devil Hunt

Paris, France; February 15, 2025 – France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally condemns the mass arrests of opposition political activists, particularly leaders, activists, and supporters of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated wings. These arrests carried out without legal warrants, have led to grave human rights violations under Operation Devil Hunt, which began on February 12, 2025, in Bangladesh.

This operation, conducted by a joint force comprising the Bangladesh Army, Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and even student groups allegedly involved in anti-discrimination efforts, has resulted in the arbitrary arrest of over 5,000 individuals without warrants or specific charges. Among those arrested are elderly individuals above 70 years of age, cancer patients, and women—many of whom are being targeted solely due to their political beliefs and affiliations with the Awami League and its associated organizations.

JMBF asserts that such a massive crackdown is being used as a tool to silence dissent and eliminate opposition voices. These politically motivated arrests violate fundamental human rights and undermine the principles of justice and due process.

PRESS & PUBLIC STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Destruction of the Historical Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka

(বাংলায় বিবৃতিটি পড়তে, অনুগ্রহপূর্বক ইংরেজি ভার্ষণের শেষে দেখুন) Paris, France; February 08, 2025: The France-based human rights organization Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally condemns the vicious spree of looting, arson, and vandalism that has targeted Bangladesh’s national heritage—specifically the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi, Dhaka—and the democratic institutions, homes, and business establishments of members of the Bangladesh Awami League across several parts of the country between February 05 and 07, 2025. These acts were perpetrated by a faction masquerading as the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement—a movement exploited by the current interim government led by former Nobel laureate for peace, Professor Mohammad Yunus—which constitutes a gross violation of human rights as established under international standards.

JMBF asserts that the deliberate attack on the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, along with the targeted assaults on the residences and business establishments of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other prominent leaders of the Bangladesh Awami League, represents not only a disgraceful act of lawlessness and a direct affront to our nation’s values but also a blatant violation of the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh.

STATEMENT: JMBF Deeply Condemns and Calls for Justice Regarding the Tragic Violence in Bangladesh

Paris, France: August 04, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh Foundation (JMBF) strongly condemns the atrocious acts of violence, including death, injury, and vandalism, that have erupted in Bangladesh today, August 04, 2024.

According to news published in various newspapers in Bangladesh, at least 98 people, including 14 policemen, have died, and countless others were injured in day-long clashes between protesters supported by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated wings, other opposition parties, police, and the ruling party Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated wings. These clashes centered on the non-cooperation movement called by Students Against Discrimination (SAD).

Statement: JusticeMakers Bangladesh is gravely concerned over sexual harassment on a student of Islamic University, Kustia.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh is deeply concerned over the recent incident of sexual harassment, physical and psychological torture and death threats on a first year student of Islamic University, Kustia in Bangladesh led by Sanjida Chowdhury, Vice President of Bangladesh Student League, student wing of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League, Islamic University branch on 12 February late night to 13 February early morning, 2023.

Simultaneously, JusticeMakers Bangladesh urged the concerned authority to form a judicial probe committee to find out the alleged culprit, aiming to bring them before the book conducting a quick and impartial investigation.