Human Rights Watch has accused Bangladesh authorities of continuing a crackdown on civil and political rights, describing the mass detention of participants at a meeting of a small left-wing political party as the latest example of the trend.
In a statement issued on Monday, the international rights organisation said police had taken around 290 supporters of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, or Jasad, into custody. The meeting was allegedly described by members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s youth wing, Jubo Dal, as a “secret” gathering of supporters of the Awami League, the party led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Among those detained, 27 were sent to remand by a court, according to the statement. They were accused of chanting “Joy Bangla”, a slogan historically associated with the Awami League. Human Rights Watch raised concerns over the use of political association or slogans as grounds for detention and questioning.
Jasad was part of the 14-party alliance led by the Awami League, which governed Bangladesh from 2009 until 2024. The government was removed following a student-led mass uprising in 2024. Human Rights Watch said hundreds of people were killed by security forces during the unrest.
The organisation also recalled that the BNP, which is now in power, faced severe repression during the Awami League’s tenure. Its statement contrasted that history with what it described as the BNP government’s treatment of potential political opponents since taking office in February.
Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, said the BNP had been detaining potential opponents indiscriminately since coming to power. The statement claimed that hundreds of Awami League members were currently in prison, with most facing no formal charges.
Human Rights Watch also cited several recent incidents involving alleged Awami League supporters. On 26 September, police detained 12 Awami League activists in Barishal on the day of a Jasad meeting. They were accused of holding a “secret” meeting to plan acts of sabotage, according to the statement.
Two days later, 15 people were arrested in Dhaka under the Anti-Terrorism Act on similar allegations. In both incidents, those detained reportedly said they had gathered to mark Sheikh Hasina’s birthday rather than to plan any violent or disruptive activity.
Concerns over rights and rule of law
Human Rights Watch said Bangladesh experienced serious human rights violations during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, including alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention of political opponents.
Against that backdrop, the organisation said the BNP came to power promising to restore human rights and the rule of law. It now argues that the government is failing to fulfil those commitments by detaining potential opponents indiscriminately and by rolling back or weakening proposed human rights safeguards introduced by the interim administration.
The organisation stressed that international human rights law protects freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for everyone. Previous violations of those rights under one government, it argued, cannot justify similar restrictions under another.
The allegations come at a politically sensitive time for Bangladesh, where questions surrounding political participation, accountability and the treatment of supporters of the former ruling party remain contentious. The distinction between legitimate law-enforcement action and politically motivated detention is particularly significant when arrests are made in connection with meetings, political slogans or alleged affiliations.
Human Rights Watch warned that repeating patterns of repression can have serious consequences for the country’s political environment. Bangladesh’s history, it said, contains numerous examples of where such practices can ultimately lead.
The claims in the statement concern allegations made by the rights organisation and the individuals involved. The grounds for the arrests, any evidence supporting the allegations and the subsequent legal proceedings will ultimately be determined through the relevant investigations and courts.
