How the Yunus-Led Interim Government Has Turned Justice into a Tool of Political Repression in Bangladesh

By Advocate Shahanur Islam

I. The Criminalization of Law and Lawyers

It began, as so many stories of injustice do, with a courtroom and a promise of fairness that never came.

Instead of being released on bail granted by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, on 4 September 2025, Khodadad Khan Pitu (60), former President of the Naogaon District Bar Association and President of the Human Rights Lawyers’ Forum, Naogaon, was re-arrested by Naogaon Sadar police from the gate of Naogaon District Jail. On 5 September, he was produced before the court in connection with a 2024 case filed over an incident in 2022 under the Explosive Substances Act, and the court ordered him sent to jail.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) Joins the Plateforme Droits de l’Homme (PDH)

Paris, France; October 4, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) received formal membership in the Plateforme Droits de l’Homme (PDH), a collective of French NGOs dedicated to promoting and defending human rights internationally, on October 1, 2025.

The PDH, established in 2017, provides a vital space for collaboration, exchange, and mutual support among French NGOs engaged in international human rights work. By joining PDH, JMBF aims to strengthen its connections with other civil society actors, enhance its visibility, and contribute to collective efforts in advocacy and human rights promotion.

Bangladesh Rights Abuses Raised at UN: JMBF President Meets OHCHR and Special Rapporteur in Geneva

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Geneva, Switzerland; October 2, 2025: The worsening human rights situation in Bangladesh has been brought before top UN officials in Geneva, as Advocate Shahanur Islam, President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), held bilateral meeting with senior representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: July-September 2025

11. JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: July-September 2025 by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)

BANGLADESH ALERT: JMBF Expresses Deep Concern Over Re-Arrest of 10 High Court-Bailed Lawyers at Jail Gate on Sabotage Charges in Barguna

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; 24 September 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep anger and condemnation over the re-arrest of 10 lawyers in Barguna who had secured bail from the High Court. On 15 September, just as they were about to be released, they were re-arrested at the jail gate on charges of sabotage and sent back to prison.

JMBF firmly believes that this incident constitutes a blatant violation of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and human rights in Bangladesh, and reflects clear political retaliation. Such actions not only undermine justice and democracy but also seriously threaten the safety and professional independence of lawyers, with a deeply negative impact on Bangladesh’s democratic system and human rights situation.