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.
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.
JMBF asserts that such systematic violence against minority communities is a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and an assault on the principles of justice, equality, and religious freedom. It is deeply disturbing that, instead of addressing these grave issues, the interim government of Bangladesh, through the Chief Advisor's Press Wing, has chosen to deny and dismiss these incidents as mere political propaganda.
JMBF urges the interim government of Bangladesh, led by former Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, to investigate the incident through a judicial committee headed by a justice from the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. We call for the immediate arrest of the alleged perpetrators and demand exemplary punishment through a transparent tribunal. Additionally, we urge the government to provide adequate financial compensation to the organizers without delay.
This heinous act of extrajudicial killing represents a gross violation of human rights as declared by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh, national laws, and international human rights instruments to which Bangladesh is a party.
JMBF demands an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Md. Touhidul Islam. This investigation must be conducted by a justice of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, not under military jurisdiction, to ensure credibility and justice.
The incidents on January 25 & 24, 2025, in Naogaon, January 16, 2025, in Sirajganj, and January 29, 2025, in Rajbari, where members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and political figures affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Amar Bangla (AB) Party forced the withdrawal of independent and Coordinated Lawyer Council candidates backed by the Bangladesh Awami League for the District Advocate Bar Association Executive Body Election 2025 through physical assault, harassment, coercion, threats of violence, and intimidation, represent a gross violation of human rights. These actions are a direct attack on the very principles of justice, rule of law, and democracy.
JMBF calls on the Bangladesh Government to take immediate and decisive action to hold the perpetrators accountable, cancel these one-sided elections, and reschedule the date for the District Advocate Bar Association Election. Additionally, JMBF demands that the government ensure the safety of all candidates and lawyers involved in these elections and guarantee that these violent acts never again threaten the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh.
Our mission is to promote, defend, and educate on human rights, including civil and political rights, irrespective of sex, caste, race, or faith. We provide legal advocacy and support for Bangladeshi lawyers who are at risk due to their professional work addressing human rights violations.
JMBF is currently seeking passionate and committed Bar Representatives-Lawyers (volunteer, unpaid) for all courts to join our Combatting Violence Against Lawyers in Bangladesh Programme.
JMBF asserts that this action, stemming from allegations alone and without transparent due process, not only tarnishes the reputation of a faculty member but also sets a dangerous precedent for perpetuating discrimination and stigmatization of individuals based on their sexual orientation. Such practices go against Bangladesh’s constitutional commitment to equality and justice for all citizens and stand in direct conflict with global human rights standards.
JMBF asserts that the Ibtedayi teachers, under the Ibtedayi Madrasa Teachers' Unity Alliance, were peacefully marching to demand the nationalization of their jobs and the implementation of a six-point demand, a legitimate cause recognized by recommendations from the Dhaka University Institute of Education and Research. This peaceful demonstration was met with unprovoked violence by the authorities, which is unacceptable in a democratic society.
JMBF also strongly condemns the subsequent police crackdown on a peaceful rally organized by the "Discontented Indigenous Students" on January 16, 2025, to besiege the Secretariat in Dhaka. These actions represent egregious violations of human rights, freedom of assembly, and the right to peaceful protest, all of which are protected under both national and international law.
JMBF asserts that this incident is not just an attack on these individual lawyers—it is an assault on the fundamental principles of justice, legal independence, and democracy in Bangladesh. The use of the judiciary as a tool to silence political opposition is a deeply troubling sign of authoritarianism creeping into the legal system. The very professionals who uphold the law are now being victimized by the system they have sworn to serve.
JMBF urges the immediate release of all eight detained lawyers, as well as the dropping of charges against all 28 lawyers without conditions.
