The Tamesis
January 29, 2026
Dhaka – Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard urged the interim government of Bangladesh to restore public trust by ensuring full respect for human rights and the rule of law.
In an open letter to chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus ahead of the February 12 vote, Callamard expressed concern that authorities “continue to abuse counter-terrorism legislation against journalists and fail to adequately protect the rights to life, physical security and freedom of expression and association”.
It called on the interim government to “ensure that laws, policies and practices adequately protect” these rights.
The letter also points out that the interim authorities responded poorly to the violence that followed the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi on December 18, 2025, when the offices of the media outlets The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were set on fire, and the editor of the New Era newspaper Noorul Kabir was harassed. The report added that on the same day, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched after being accused of blasphemy.
“Bangladesh’s interim government has the authority to restore human rights in accordance with the state’s obligations under international law. The coming weeks will be a decisive test of whether it fulfills these responsibilities,” she said.
Authorities must uphold the rights of individuals and groups to free expression – including during elections. Chief Advisor Yunus The government must show real leadership and ensure that all Bangladeshis can participate fully and safely in determining the future of their country.
“They must ensure that the right to life is protected. No one should fear for their life for peacefully expressing their thoughts and sharing their opinions,” she said in the letter.
Although Bangladesh is a signatory to many core international human rights instruments, the interim government has failed to fulfill these obligations. This includes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which sets out the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association that must be upheld, including during elections.
“Unlawful restrictions on these fundamental freedoms undermine public debate and participation in the electoral process, and erode public trust in institutions.” Since taking power in 2024, the interim authorities have abused the harsh Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to target journalists and other perceived critics, the letter said. The letter cited the examples of Monjurul Alam Panna, who was detained under the ATA in August 2025 for allegedly “attempting to overthrow the interim government”, and Anis Alamgir, who was detained under the ATA in December 2025 for allegedly “spreading propaganda for the Awami League”.
The arbitrary arrest of the two journalists violated their rights to freedom of expression and association, the statement added.
