STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns Continuous Extrajudicial Killings Under the Interim Government of Bangladesh

Paris, France; November 22, 2024 – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the alarming trend of continuous extrajudicial killings under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which assumed power on August 8, 2024. These heinous acts of state violence, carried out by law enforcement agencies, including the army and joint police forces, represent gross violations of the Constitution, human rights, the rule of law, and international standards of justice.

JMBF Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) 2024

Paris, France; November 20, 2024- On this Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) 2024, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) solemnly honors the memory of transgender individuals who have tragically lost their lives to anti-transgender violence. While this day serves as a global observance, we particularly focus on the alarming rise in violence against transgender people in Bangladesh, where systemic discrimination and religious intolerance continue to devastate the transgender community.

Robert Simon, Chief Adviser of JMBF, emphasizes, "In Bangladesh, transgender individuals, particularly Hijra and other gender-diverse communities, suffer from relentless violence, social exclusion, and denial of basic human rights. Many are deprived of access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, forcing them into precarious and vulnerable situations. As we remember those we have lost, we renew our unwavering commitment to fighting against these injustices."

Are LGBT Teachers Paying the Price for Political Turmoil in Bangladesh?

Advocate Shahanur Islam

In recent months, Bangladesh has witnessed a disturbing rise in violence and discrimination against LGBT educators, coinciding with the formation of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. While the political transition aimed to usher in stability after the contentious tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, this shift has exposed deep societal fissures and exacerbated existing vulnerabilities faced by marginalized communities.

The backdrop of this violence lies in the chaotic political environment that culminated in Hasina’s resignation. Her tenure, marked by increasingly authoritarian measures, had sparked widespread protests and a corresponding harsh crackdown on dissent. Following her exit and the establishment of Yunus’s interim leadership, the focus of governance shifted toward stabilizing the political landscape rather than addressing pressing human rights concerns.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Brutal Killing of Gay Teacher in Meherpur, Bangladesh

Arrested Accused Murderers

Paris, France; November 13, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the brutal killing of Sujan Ali, a gay kindergarten teacher from Jibon Nagar, Meherpur. Sujan's tragic murder on the night of October 6, 2024, in the very school where he dedicated his life to nurturing young minds, serves as a stark and harrowing reminder of the deadly consequences of prejudice and hate against the LGBTQI+ community.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Recent Cancellation of Press Accreditation Cards for 167 Journalists by the Interim Government of Bangladesh

Paris, France; November 10, 2024 — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally condemns the recent cancellation of press accreditation cards for 167 professional journalists by the Directorate of Information (PID) under the interim government of Dr. Mohammad Yunus. This decision, implemented in three phases, represents an alarming violation of fundamental principles enshrined in both national and international law, jeopardizing the essence of free speech and press freedom—cornerstones of any democratic society.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns Physical Assault on Lawyer During Court Hearing of Former Minister Amir Hossain

Paris, France; November 07, 2024:JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the violent physical assault on Advocate Swapan Krishna Roy Chowdhury on 7 November 2024, during the remand hearing of former minister and Awami League advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu. This act, committed in the presence of a magistrate at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, undermines not only the safety and independence of legal professionals but also threatens the foundational right to a fair trial.

STATEMENT: JMBF’s Concern over Coercive Silence Threats against Bangladeshi Media on Reporting Human Rights Violations

Paris, France; November 02, 2024: Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally condemns and protests the indirect threats and directives aimed at silencing Bangladeshi media from publishing JMBF’s statements on human rights abuses occurring under the current interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. These intimidation tactics represent a direct assault on press freedom, freedom of expression, and the rights of human rights defenders—fundamental principles that are essential pillars of any democratic society and commitments that Bangladesh has pledged to uphold.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Suspension of High School Teacher on Grounds of Sexual Orientation

Paris, France; November 02, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns and protests the recent suspension of Haroon Or Rashid Milan, principal of Kurigram Collectorate School and College, on August 25, 2024, in Kurugram. This decision represents a troubling trend toward targeting individuals based on unproven accusations related to their sexual orientation rather than any substantiated evidence of misconduct.

STATEMENT: JMBF Welcomes UN High Commissioner Volker Türk’s Visit to Bangladesh, Calling for Urgent Action on Human Rights Violations and Judicial Independence

Paris, France | October 29, 2024 – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) welcomes the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, to Bangladesh from October 29 to 30, 2024. This visit comes at a critical moment, as Bangladesh faces urgent human rights concerns under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, alongside documented abuses under the previous government led by Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

JMBF believes this visit provides a pivotal opportunity to address Bangladesh’s human rights and rule-of-law challenges following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5, 2024, and the interim government’s assumption of power on August 8, 2024.

JMBF Founder Advocate Shahanur Islam Attends IGLYO’s 40th Anniversary Members' General Assembly 2024 in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), recently joined LGBTQI+ youth advocates from across Europe to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the International LGBTQI+ Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO). This milestone Members' General Assembly, held from October 24 to 27, 2024, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, commemorated four decades of IGLYO’s dedication to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment for LGBTQI+ youth across Europe and beyond.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Refraining of Professor from All Academic Activities at Islamic University, Kushtia, Due to Sexual Orientation

Paris, France; October 26, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) vehemently condemns the recent decision to refrain Assistant Professor Hafizul Islam of the Development Studies Department at Islamic University, Kushtia, from all departmental activities, including teaching, due to allegations of homosexuality made on October 23, 2024.

The actions of the university authorities, including barring him from all departmental activities, represent a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and academic freedom. Such actions perpetuate discrimination, intolerance, and fear, contradicting the principles of human dignity and equality.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Ban on Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)

Paris, France; October 23, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strongly condemns the recent ban on Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) by the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel Laureate for Peace, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, announced on October 23, 2024, under the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009. This decision, taken in response to demands from the student movement against discrimination, raises serious questions about the government’s motivations and the broader implications for civil liberties and democratic practices in Bangladesh.

The decision to ban the BCL, a 76-year-old pro-Awami League student organization, came in response to demands from a student movement against discrimination, following an ultimatum by the students to intensify their demonstrations if the BCL was not banned within the week. JMBF questions the legitimacy of a decision made under pressure from the protests and whether it genuinely serves the interests of justice or reflects an attempt to appease certain factions in a politically charged environment.

STATEMENT: JMBF Condemns Arbitrary Arrest and Inhumane Treatment of Barrister Syedul Haque Sumon, Calls for Immediate Release and Investigation

Paris, France; October 22, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and degrading treatment of Barrister Syed Syedul Haque Sumon, a former Member of Parliament, renowned social worker, anti-corruption activist, and lawyer, who was detained by police in the early hours of October 22, 2024, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His arrest, on questionable charges related to the anti-discrimination student movement, along with his inhumane treatment while in custody, represents a grave violation of national and international human rights standards.