A coalition of international human rights organizations has urged Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, to accelerate legal and institutional reforms ahead of the 2026 elections.
In a joint letter published Sunday, groups including Human Rights Watch, CIVICUS, and the Committee to Protect Journalists commended the government for initial steps to restore basic freedoms after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League in 2024. But they warned that key sectors remain unreformed and that ongoing detentions risk undermining progress.
“We urge you to expand human rights protections and ensure Bangladesh has the strong institutions needed to guarantee free and fair elections and guard against future backsliding,” the groups wrote.
The letter called for disbanding the Rapid Action Battalion, limiting the powers of military intelligence, and criminalizing enforced disappearances. It also pressed for reforming the National Human Rights Commission, repealing restrictive cyber laws, protecting press freedom, and reviewing politically motivated cases against Awami League members.
Signatories further urged Dhaka to prevent forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar and fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court. The groups said Bangladesh must seize the “narrow window” before the election to end decades of impunity and rebuild trust.