HRW Calls for Reforms to Restore Democracy in BD

A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has highlighted alarming instances of "arbitrary arrests" and "reprisal violence" in Bangladesh, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic reforms to restore democracy. The New York-based organization called on the interim government to implement legal detention standards and repeal laws that have been used to target dissenters.

The report, titled “After the Monsoon Revolution: A Roadmap to Lasting Security Sector Reform in Bangladesh,” published on Monday, urges reforms following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic regime in August 2024. HRW stresses that these reforms must prioritize the separation of powers and ensure political neutrality within key state institutions, including the civil service, police, military, and judiciary.

HRW also recommended that the interim government seek guidance from international bodies like the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ensuring external monitoring and reporting to support lasting reform efforts.

"Nearly 1,000 Bangladeshis lost their lives fighting for democracy, marking a pivotal moment to forge a future grounded in human rights,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at HRW. “But this progress is at risk if the interim government fails to implement rapid, meaningful reforms that can resist future governmental repression.”

The recommendations in the report are drawn from over two decades of HRW research in Bangladesh, combined with recent interviews with human rights defenders, members of the interim government, and current and former law enforcement and military officials.

To ensure sustainable reforms, HRW urged the interim government to introduce a UN Human Rights Council resolution at its March 2025 session, ensuring that reforms extend beyond the government’s temporary tenure. The organization also called on donor governments to invest in security sector reform, particularly police training, but only after ensuring these reforms are grounded in core structural changes.

HRW also expressed concerns about the reemergence of security force abuses, particularly targeting former Awami League members and journalists. Arbitrary detentions and mass criminal complaints are once again on the rise, with tens of thousands of people, primarily Awami League affiliates, facing accusations ranging from murder to corruption. In the two months since the interim government took office, more than 1,000 police cases have been filed against thousands of individuals, with over 400 former ministers and leaders under investigation.

While HRW advocates holding those responsible for past abuses accountable, it warns that the mass filing of complaints without sufficient evidence undermines the pursuit of justice. The organization called for an immediate ban on cases against unnamed individuals and arbitrary mass arrest warrants, urging revisions to laws that permit vague charges to target critics.

HRW also emphasized the need for courts to act swiftly, ensuring detained individuals are brought before a judge without delay, and that all detention centers remain open to independent inspections.

Finally, HRW stressed the importance of UN-backed monitoring and regular reporting on human rights conditions in Bangladesh, calling on member countries to support the interim government’s reform agenda.

“The interim government faces the monumental challenge of dismantling 15 years of entrenched autocracy,” Pearson said. “Securing UN support for structural reforms is crucial to prevent the abuses of the past from shaping Bangladesh’s future.”