Amnesty flags media freedom, justice and women's rights ahead of Bangladesh elections

Amnesty International on Monday urged Bangladesh's next government to carry out wide-ranging human rights reforms ahead of national elections scheduled for 12 Feb. 2026, citing concerns over free expression, accountability, minority protections and the use of capital punishment.

In a report published in Amnesty.org, the rights group said the priorities reflect areas where it believes Bangladesh is falling short of its international obligations.

1. Freedom of expression and opinion

Amnesty said journalists, activists and human rights defenders in Bangladesh continue to face pressure through the use of restrictive legislation. It called for amendments to the Cyber Security Ordinance to remove provisions that criminalize defamation and "hurting religious sentiment."

The organisation also urged authorities to stop using the Anti-Terrorism Act against journalists perceived as political opponents and to investigate mob attacks on media outlets, including those targeting the Daily Star and Prothom Alo in late 2025.

2. Accountability and justice

Bangladesh faces a "trust deficit" in its judicial system after years of politicisation, Amnesty said. It called for investigations into human rights violations during the 2024 protests, in which an estimated 1,400 people were killed, and into abuses committed before 2010, including enforced disappearances, torture and deaths in custody.

Amnesty urged Dhaka to cooperate with the United Nations by referring 2024 protest-related cases to the International Criminal Court and by allowing visits by UN Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial executions and judicial independence.

3. Indigenous peoples and religious minorities

The group said Indigenous peoples and religious minorities remain marginalised in Bangladesh and are rarely included in reform processes. It called for full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.

Amnesty also urged investigations into attacks on minorities, including the lynching of Hindu workers and arson attacks on Hindu homes, and called for an end to what it described as the indiscriminate targeting of the Bawm community. It said minority representation in public service and higher education should be increased.

4. Women's rights

Despite legal protections, women in Bangladesh continue to face high levels of violence and exclusion from politics, Amnesty said. It noted that as of early 2026, 30 of the 51 political parties contesting the election had not nominated a single woman candidate.

The group also called for stronger action against child marriage, citing data showing that more than 40% of surveyed women were married before the age of 18, and urged the implementation of recommendations from the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, including criminalizing marital rape and protecting inheritance rights.

5. Workers' rights

Amnesty said labour rights violations remain widespread, particularly in the garment sector, which underpins Bangladesh's export economy. It called for the minimum wage to be reviewed to ensure it provides a living wage in line with inflation and the cost of living.

It also urged the government to ratify International Labour Organization Convention 190 on workplace violence and harassment and to extend labour law protections to temporary and home-based workers.

6. Climate justice

As one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, Bangladesh must better integrate human rights into its climate policies, Amnesty said. It called for Dalit sanitation workers to be formally recognised as a vulnerable group in national climate plans, citing their limited access to flood-resilient housing, sanitation and safe water.

The group also urged the creation of decentralised climate adaptation funds for high-risk areas, including coastal districts such as Khulna and Satkhira.

7. Refugee protection

Amnesty said Bangladesh should continue to protect the rights of more than one million Rohingya refugees living in camps, particularly in the southeast. It called for ensuring access to education and livelihoods while preventing forced returns to Myanmar.

The organisation also urged authorities to improve security inside camps to address risks including abductions and sexual violence.

8. Death penalty

Amnesty renewed its call for an official moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty. It raised concerns about death sentences imposed in absentia or by special courts, including the International Crimes Tribunal, citing fair trial issues.

The Election Commission has said voting will take place on 12 Feb. The government has not yet commented on Amnesty's recommendations.