In a sharp rebuke from Paris, the Justice Makers Bangladesh (JMBF) has labeled Bangladesh’s newly enacted ‘July Mass Uprising Bill, 2026’ as a grave threat to justice and human rights. Passed on April 8 by parliament, the law offers total legal protection to those who joined the deadly July-August 2024 demonstrations, erasing all criminal and civil accountability.
This bill formalizes an ordinance from the short-lived interim administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Critics argue it creates a free pass for violence, dismissing ongoing cases and prohibiting new ones. JMBF highlights how this contravenes constitutional safeguards and Bangladesh’s commitments under global human rights treaties.
‘This legislation promotes impunity for heinous acts, weakening the judiciary and rule of law,’ JMBF declared. By shielding protesters from scrutiny, it not only buries past wrongs but risks encouraging impunity-driven chaos in the future, further destabilizing the country’s democracy.
Drawing on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR, the group stresses the imperative for thorough probes, victim redress, and accountability. The law’s passage amid political turmoil underscores tensions in post-uprising Bangladesh, where demands for reform clash with cries for justice.
JMBF’s demands are unequivocal: scrap the bill, reinstate independent probes, deliver closure to victims, and safeguard judicial integrity. Appeals extend to international allies like the UN and EU to pressure Dhaka for adherence to universal standards. This development tests Bangladesh’s democratic resilience at a pivotal moment.
