Calls for Immediate Review of Pre‑Trial Custody in Bangladesh

New York, August 24 – In a statement released today, Human Rights Watch demanded that the Bangladeshi government conduct a swift and transparent review of all individuals held in pre‑trial detention, especially those linked to the former Awami League government.

HRW points to a wave of arrests that followed the violent protests of August 2024, after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted. Police detained thousands of party functionaries, supporters and affiliated journalists. Since the new prime minister took office in February 2026, ten senior Awami League members have died while awaiting trial, many of them lacking any concrete evidence of wrongdoing.

The organization emphasizes that detainees—including senior citizens and those with severe health conditions—have been denied bail, proper medical care, and even basic sanitary provisions. Ellen Pearson, HRW’s Asia director, described the situation as a "systemic abuse of pre‑trial powers" and urged the government to honor its reform promises by ending arbitrary, prolonged incarceration.

HRW also criticised the draft National Human Rights Commission Bill, arguing that its current provisions would strip the commission of the authority to probe unlawful arrests. The watchdog highlighted that various former MPs, ex‑legislators who backed the Hasina administration, and other party operatives are facing charges ranging from extrajudicial killings to corruption, often without solid proof.

Lower courts continue to refuse bail, while higher‑court orders granting release are routinely bypassed after additional charges are filed by state prosecutors. HRW called on judges and competent officials to reassess each detention case to confirm its legality, insisting that any pre‑trial measure must conform to the rights to liberty, presumption of innocence and equality before the law.