Amnesty chief urges Yunus to guarantee human rights ahead of polls
The organisation said both arrests were arbitrary and violated the journalists’ rights to freedom of expression and association.
Amnesty International (AI) Secretary General Agnès Callamard has urged Bangladesh's interim government to restore public trust by guaranteeing full respect for human rights and the rule of law in the weeks leading up to next month's national election.
In an open letter sent to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus ahead of the February 12 polls, Callamard said the coming fortnight would be a "decisive test" of whether the interim authorities honour their obligations under international human rights law.
The letter criticises what it describes as the interim government's "inadequate response" to violence following the killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi on December 18, 2025. Amnesty cited incidents in which the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were set on fire and New Age editor Nurul Kabir was harassed.
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On the same day, Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man, was lynched following allegations of blasphemy, the rights body said.
Since assuming power in 2024, the interim authorities have "misused" the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against journalists and perceived critics, the letter said.
Amnesty cited the arrest of journalist Monjurul Alam Panna under the ATA in August 2025 on allegations of attempting to overthrow the interim government, and the detention of journalist Anis Alamgir in December 2025 for allegedly spreading propaganda for the Awami League.
The organisation said both arrests were arbitrary and violated the journalists' rights to freedom of expression and association.
The letter raises concern over the continued use of anti-terror laws against journalists and the authorities' failure to adequately protect the rights to life, personal security, freedom of expression and freedom of association.
Calling on the interim government to "ensure that laws, policies and practices fully protect these rights" during the election period, Callamard said, "Bangladesh's interim government had a mandate to restore human rights, in line with the nation's obligations under international law."
"The coming weeks will be a decisive test of whether it will honour those responsibilities," she added.
Callamard stressed that the authorities must ensure people can speak freely without fear, including during the election. "No one should fear for their life for peacefully expressing their views," she said.
Despite Bangladesh being a signatory to several core international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Amnesty said the interim administration has failed to give effect to these obligations.
"Unlawful restrictions on these fundamental freedoms undermine public debate and participation in the electoral process, and weaken public trust in institutions," the letter said.
