Crackdown on Peaceful Dissent and Assemblies Violates Human Rights

Editorial

The right to assemble, to express dissent, and to participate in politics are fundamental human rights, not a privilege granted by the government. But these rights are increasingly being eroded in Bangladesh today. The widely illegitimate interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus is actively attacking these democratic principles, transforming the issue from a political debate into a serious challenge to democratic values.

The interim regime’s initial actions set a worrying precedent: quickly suspending the registration of the Bangladesh Awami League and effectively banning its political activities, citing the country’s anti-terrorism law.

Amnesty International deeply regrets the decision of the interim government of Bangladesh to ban the activities of the Bangladesh Awami League. This move casts doubt on the government’s role in protecting the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression, as enshrined in international human rights law. Amnesty International is further concerned that this sweeping ban and the cancellation of the party’s registration with the Election Commission are not consistent with the strict standards established in international law to ensure the protection of these freedoms.

In effect, the ban has created an atmosphere of fear by criminalizing ordinary democratic participation. Citizens who participate in peaceful protests or support the Bangladesh Awami League are at risk of arrest, harassment, and detention. The report states that security forces affiliated with the Yunus regime are conducting daily raids, arresting activists, students, and ordinary citizens whose only “crime” is exercising their constitutional right to dissent. Despite the ban and crackdown, supporters of the Bangladesh Awami League continue to organize occasional protests in Dhaka and other regions, often followed by arrests. The report also indicates that thousands of Bangladesh Awami League supporters and ordinary citizens have been detained.

Bangladesh is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and is bound by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of these instruments guarantee the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and association (Article 20 of the UDHR; Articles 21 and 22 of the ICCPR). These rights are fundamental; they are the foundation of human dignity and the right to self-determination. The Yunus regime’s ban on assemblies, protests, dissent, and the Bangladesh Awami League violates the principles of the UDHR and international law. To preserve democracy, Bangladesh must restore political freedoms, ensure due process, and protect the right of citizens to peaceful participation.

The interim government claims that its ban on the Bangladesh Awami League is legitimate. However, there is a clear distinction between the rule of law and rule by law. The rule of law advocates for laws that protect universal rights and are impartially enforced. In contrast, rule by law involves using the law as a tool to suppress political opponents for one’s own benefit. The Yunus administration is using this tactic to cripple Bangladesh by violating human rights and betraying its core values.

The interim government has used the Anti-Terrorism Act to ban all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League, both online and offline. The law has been misused to suppress the country’s largest political party and to criminalize its supporters on a massive scale. This is not a matter of law enforcement; it is an abuse of the law.

Democracy cannot survive without dissent. When citizens cannot assemble, march or participate in rallies, opposition parties are banned, and individuals are imprisoned for their political beliefs, democracy collapses. The future of Bangladesh does not depend solely on suppressing one political party in favor of another or banning criticism of the Yunus regime. A truly stable and pluralistic society requires tolerance of dissent, not suppression.

The rights to freedom of assembly and expression of dissent, as well as the right to participate in marches and rallies, must be restored in the future. All those detained for participating in these activities must be released and fair treatment must be ensured. The conditions for free and inclusive elections must be created. The international community, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth and regional partners, must exert strong pressure on the interim government to fulfill its legal obligations.

Ultimately, Bangladeshi citizens must be enabled to exercise their rights to speak, to assemble, and to participate in shaping the future of the country. The right to dissent is the foundation of democracy. Stifling it destroys the spirit of freedom.