Paris, Nov 13 – A major international human rights group has blasted a wave of brutal attacks, false charges and arbitrary arrests that have targeted lawyers across Bangladesh under the Muhammad Yunus‑led interim government.
Justice Makers Bangladesh France (JMBF) slammed the incidents as “persecution of lawyers simply for doing their jobs or holding different political views.” The group warned that the violence not only undermines the independence of the judiciary but also threatens the entire legal community that fights for human rights.
Key examples
- Brahmanbaria (Nov 8) – Police, joined by local Bangladesh Nationalist Party members, tried to arrest Advocate Mohammad Alamgir in his village. Alamgir fled before they could pull him in, but one of his neighbors was taken as a warning.
- Rangpur (Oct 22) – Police detained former Public Prosecutor Jahangir Hossain Tuhin in what the group says are “fabricated, politically motivated” charges.
- Shariatpur (Nov 10) – Bombs were thrown at the Lawyers’ Association office and at Rubayet Anwar Monir’s chambers.
- Sherpur (Nov 9) – The home of Advocate Ashraful Alam, who represents a murder‑trial plaintiff, was broken into by armed attackers.
- Kuakata, Patuakhali (Sep) – Advocate Anwar Hossain was severely beaten and stabbed, leaving him critically injured.
JMBF’s statement says these events reveal a pattern of systematic persecution against lawyers. “This is happening with the tacit approval or silence of the interim government,” the organization added. “It is a blatant violation of Bangladesh’s Constitution and international human‑rights law.”
Call to action
Robert Simon, JMBF’s chief advisor and a well‑known French human‑rights defender, called the attacks “unacceptable in a democratic society.” “No human‑rights defender should be silenced by intimidation or arrest,” he said.
JMBF urges the international community to condemn the violence immediately and pressure the Yunus‑led interim government to protect the safety and independence of Bangladesh’s legal profession. The group stresses that safeguarding lawyers is essential to upholding human rights and the rule of law in the country.
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