In a sharply worded report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Bangladesh’s interim government to pursue systemic legal and institutional reforms, warning that without meaningful change, the country risks slipping back into the authoritarian practices that defined the previous regime.
The New York-based rights watchdog released its statement on Monday, calling on the post-Awami League leadership to break from the legacy of arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and weaponized judiciary that plagued the nation under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“Simply changing those in power without dismantling the machinery of repression is not enough,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director at HRW. “Bangladesh needs deep structural reforms to prevent a repeat of its abusive past.”
The report comes amid cautious optimism following the ousting of the Awami League government after months of intense public protests, student movements, and accusations of electoral fraud and systemic human rights violations.
While the current interim administration has pledged to restore democracy and hold fresh elections, HRW cautioned that cosmetic changes or selective accountability would fall short of the transformation the country needs.
A System Built on Fear
According to HRW, Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies — particularly the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Detective Branch (DB) — became tools of political control under Hasina’s rule. Allegations of extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearance went largely unpunished, with critics and opposition figures routinely targeted.
Although the U.S. and other countries had previously sanctioned RAB officials, domestic reforms were minimal. HRW insists that unless there is an independent mechanism for accountability, such abuses will continue under new names and faces.
A Call for Inclusive Justice
The rights organization emphasized that reform should not be weaponized for partisan revenge. HRW urged the interim government to ensure that justice is not selective and that trials — whether against Awami League leaders or security officials — must follow due process and uphold international standards.
“Revenge prosecutions will only perpetuate the cycle of abuse,” Ganguly said. “This is an opportunity for Bangladesh to set a new precedent — one of rule of law, transparency, and dignity for all citizens.”
What’s Next?
- The HRW statement also outlined key areas for reform, including:
- Strengthening judicial independence
- Reforming police and intelligence service
- Ensuring freedom of expression and assembly
Providing redress for victims of past abuse As Bangladesh stands at a political and moral crossroads, the international community will be closely watching whether the interim leadership chooses to confront the past — or repeat it.
