Dbarta24 Desk : Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Bangladeshi authorities to urgently put an end to the prolonged pre-trial detention of political figures and affiliates associated with the ousted Awami League administration.
In a report published on Monday, the New York-based rights organization highlighted that hundreds of individuals remain imprisoned without formal charges, basic bail rights, or adequate medical care.
Following mass protests in August 2024 that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, law enforcement agencies detained thousands of party leaders, activists, and officials.
While some former officials may face serious allegations of human rights abuses, HRW noted that many individuals were arrested without visible evidence linking them to violent events or protester deaths.
Family members and lawyers report that several detainees are elderly, suffer from severe medical conditions, and are routinely denied fundamental rights.
The report highlights growing concerns over prison conditions and access to healthcare, noting that at least 10 Awami League leaders have died in custody since Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took office in February.
“In government after government, hundreds of opposition members in Bangladesh have been held behind bars without evidence or due process,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
She emphasized that the current administration should honor its commitments to reform by ending the practice of arbitrary, indefinite detention.
Among those detained are former lawmakers, public officials, journalists, and security force personnel—some of whom face grave allegations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, while others face corruption charges.
Human Rights Watch documented a pattern where prosecutors repeatedly oppose bail even when no clear evidence is presented.
Lower courts consistently reject bail petitions, and when the High Court grants bail, authorities frequently bring new charges to prevent release.
A highlighted case in the report involves 82-year-old former Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Huq, who was arrested in July 2025 and subsequently named in multiple additional cases over several months.
Despite suffering a heart attack while in custody and receiving High Court bail on repeated occasions, new charges were filed each time to stall his release until the Appellate Division intervened to grant his freedom on August 19.
Similar concerns were raised regarding proceedings at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), where over 160 individuals have been held without formal charges beyond the standard framework.
High-profile figures such as 81-year-old former advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and 75-year-old former MP Kamal Ahmed Majumdar have remained in custody for nearly 22 months without trial, with family members reporting severe deterioration in their health.
Under international human rights standards, pre-trial detention should be treated as an exceptional measure rather than the default rule, subject to regular judicial review.
Human Rights Watch has urged the Bangladeshi government to order independent investigations into all custodial deaths and ensure that individuals are not held indefinitely without formal charges.