Global rights groups urge Yunus to widen reforms

Staff Reporter :

A coalition of leading international human rights organisations has written a joint letter to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, urging the Interim Government to strengthen human rights protections and accelerate reforms ahead of the 2026 national elections.
The letter, signed by CIVICUS, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and the Tech Global Institute, commends the government for initiating legal reforms and investigating abuses that occurred under the former Awami League administration.
However, the groups warned that progress remains fragile and that security sector impunity and politically motivated arrests continue to undermine democratic recovery.
The organisations acknowledged key steps taken since the July Revolution that ended Sheikh Hasina’s rule, including the establishment of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to prosecute enforced disappearances and torture as crimes against humanity.
They urged the military to fully cooperate with the ICT and respect its jurisdiction over military personnel, calling for a moratorium on the death penalty in all cases.
The letter pressed the government to disband the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and limit the powers of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), arguing that these institutions have long records of abuse.
It called for criminalising enforced disappearances, strengthening the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, and ensuring security agencies grant investigators full access to detention facilities and records.
Reform of the National Human Rights Commission was described as vital to guarantee its independence and compliance with the Paris Principles.
The groups urged that the Commission be empowered to investigate abuses by security forces and state actors without political interference.
The rights coalition also criticised the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, warning that it repeats many of the flaws of the repealed Cyber Security Act 2023 and could still be used to stifle free expression.
It called for the amendment or repeal of other restrictive laws, including the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Special Powers Act, and the Official Secrets Act.
The letter raised concern over the draft Personal Data Protection Ordinance and the National Data Management Ordinance, saying both create sweeping exemptions for state authorities and risk enabling unchecked surveillance.
The groups demanded meaningful stakeholder consultations to align the laws with global privacy standards.
On press freedom, the coalition urged the Yunus administration to protect journalists from arbitrary arrest and violence and to pursue independent investigations into attacks.
They supported the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission and pressed for their implementation in line with international standards.
The organisations also called for an end to politically motivated prosecutions, including those against members of the Awami League, and urged the government to lift the broad ban on Awami League activities imposed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
They argued that such restrictions threaten the restoration of multi-party democracy and disenfranchise a significant portion of the electorate.
The letter further appealed for reform of the NGO Affairs Bureau and the Foreign Donations Regulation Act to ensure civil society organisations can operate freely without excessive state interference.
On the Rohingya issue, the groups warned against forced repatriation, noting that conditions in Myanmar remain unsafe.
They called on Bangladesh to protect over one million Rohingya refugees, including 150,000 who arrived since late 2023, by upholding their right to voluntary, safe, and dignified return.
They also urged the easing of restrictions on movement, education, and livelihoods in refugee camps amid shrinking aid flows.
Finally, the coalition urged full cooperation with the International Criminal Court’s ongoing investigation into crimes committed in Bangladesh and Myanmar, including the arrest and transfer of any individuals wanted by the ICC who are currently on Bangladeshi territory.
The rights groups said the next few months before the 2026 elections represent a crucial test of Bangladesh’s commitment to justice, accountability, and democratic restoration under the Yunus-led Interim Government.