The Coalition for Human Rights & Democracy in Bangladesh (CHRD Bangladesh) takes the opportunity to greatly appreciate the just and objective Country Report on the Human Rights Practices in Bangladesh for the year 2023. As observed by the report, the deplorable human rights situation in the country has not been any different from the previous years since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina started her authoritarian rule in January 2009. Notably, the report cites serious flaws in the electoral system, which had been designed by the regime to stay in power for perpetuity. All the national elections under the regime in 2014, 2018 and 2024 were totally farcical and non-participatory. Even the election in December 2008 was said to have been rigged by vested quarters to install Sheikh Hasina in power.
Deplorable Human Rights
The report noted that the Sheikh Hasina “government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or security force members who may have committed human rights abuses.” Arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and reports of torture continued with total impunity. Many detainees were held without due process of law or access to legal representation. The constitutional provision and procedure, particularly with regard to individual rights, were trampled during such activities. Most victims were opposition political activists and dissidents.
Compromised Judiciary
The report rightly observed that the regime “compromised the independence of the judicial system in Bangladesh.” Corruption and political interference in the judiciary were rampant. Courts were susceptible to influence from “political patronage networks, especially in cases involving opposition party supporters,” the report cited. In fact, the judiciary, like all other branches of the government–the administration, police, military and legislature continued to be used as compliant partners in the undemocratic repressive activities of the regime.
The State Department report also provided a backlog of the pending cases, which kept the defendants suffering in custody for more periods than the maximum sentence for the crime they allegedly committed. In the top courts, while 500,000 cases were pending, 90,000 new cases were filed annually. Access to legal representation and affordability, coupled with existing complexities of legal aid services, make the situation worse for most defendants.
No Freedom of Expression
The report also noted extreme restrictions on freedom of expression that include the media. With slightest criticism of the government and the ruling class, its policies and corruption, people, including minors, continued to become victims of the detested Digital Security Act (DSA). In the name of Cyber Security Act (CSA), relevant international law was misused to penalize dissidents. The regime also employed “transnational repression tactics” that included “bilateral pressure tactics to coerce foreign governments,” to retaliate members of the diaspora.
The report also mentioned the continued denial to seriously ailing opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia to seek improved treatment abroad, further hinting that the case under which she was penalized remained questionable.
Regional Security Threat
As the State Department report has observed, Bangladesh is virtually heading towards an explosive situation due to the “illegality” of the regime, its repeated election frauds, unprecedented corruption, financial chaos and intolerance to opposition, among others. The situation poses a serious threat not only to its stability and viability but also a security threat to the region.
Sanctions
CHRD Bangladesh wishes to recall the commitment of President Joe Biden for democracy, human rights, freedom, fighting corruption and authoritarianism, as well as ensuring election integrity as the United States’ core external policies. We therefore urge the State Department to give special attention to Bangladesh, which, as the State Department report rightly observed, suffered in these objectives very seriously.
The US sanctions against the detested Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its top officials in 2021, disallowing Bangladesh to join Washington’s Democracy Summits, and the 2023 Declaration of Visa Restrictions for election crimes were all in the right direction and greatly appreciated by a vast majority of the 180 million people of Bangladesh. CHRD Bangladesh continues to believe that the US can provide necessary and effective leadership to ensure democracy, human rights and election integrity in the country, which has not seen these values for decades.
Above all, Bangladesh needs a credible election under a neutral authority to choose a democratic and patriotic good governance. The sooner it is done, the earlier the county can save itself from the current destructive slide, violence and ultimate regional insecurity.