Human Rights Violations in Prisons: Chhatra League Leaders and Activists Denied Release Despite Bail

Staff Correspondent | May 14, 2025

The student movement of July-August last year resulted in violent clashes and significant political shifts. Following these events, a crackdown ensued against leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated and fraternal organizations. Nationwide, political activists were killed, their homes and businesses destroyed. Human rights violations escalated as mass arrests were initiated, regardless of whether there were charges against individuals.

The trade of filing and withdrawing cases increased. Thousands of known and unknown individuals were accused in cases. Across the country, lists of Awami League leaders and activists at various levels were compiled to include their names. Extortion under the pretext of adding or removing names from cases became rampant. According to the Awami League and its affiliated organizations, approximately 51,000 leaders and activists have been arrested and sent to prison across the country, most of whom are Chhatra League activists.

Reports indicate that Chhatra League activists are being confined to “condemned cells” (reserved for death-row inmates) in prisons. They are restricted to their designated floors, with no permission to move elsewhere, even to the canteen. Six to seven individuals are crammed into small cells. Medical treatment is not provided unless an individual is gravely ill and bedridden. Many leaders and activists of the Awami League’s affiliated organizations have reportedly died in prison.

For Chhatra League activists facing multiple cases, they are initially shown as arrested in one case. Even after securing bail in that case, the prison authorities are instructed by the “Prosecution Department” (DC Prosecution) not to release them. As a result, they are shown as arrested in new cases at the prison gates.

These new cases often lack specific names, listing individuals as “unknown.” Activists are not released despite securing bail solely because of their affiliation with the Chhatra League, following instructions from the DC Prosecution and Special Branch (SB).

Examples of Human Rights Violations:

• Kajol Das, president of Jagannath Hall Chhatra League, secured bail in case number 18/10 filed at Shahbagh police station. However, upon reaching the prison gate, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) showed him arrested in a new case, preventing his release.
• Lipton Islam, Deputy Secretary for Drama and Debate of the Dhaka University Chhatra League, was granted bail in a case where he was listed as an unknown accused. Despite submitting all necessary documents, his release was blocked by objections from the DC Prosecution.
• Sajib, president of Bijoy Ekattor Hall Chhatra League, secured bail in multiple cases but was not released from prison. Instead, he was shown as arrested in several new cases as an “unknown” accused.
• Kamal Uddin Rana, president of Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall Chhatra League, secured bail in multiple cases, but his release was blocked due to a stay order issued by the court after bail orders were given.
• Rakibul Oitijjhya, former vice-president of the central Chhatra League committee, reached the prison gate with valid bail documents. However, a sudden stay order in his case prevented his release.

Regarding the cancellation of bail and stay orders, officials, on condition of anonymity, stated that they are bound by instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs and cannot act otherwise.

They also revealed that law enforcement agencies are under instructions to detain a specific number of “League” activists daily and send them to prison as accused in various cases. This has become a “routine task,” with officers facing reprimands if targets are not met. Failure to comply results in allegations of negligence, complicity with fascism, and other charges, forcing the police to carry out such “unpleasant” tasks to secure their jobs.

Legal advisor Asif Nazrul had previously urged for an end to these mass arrests and thousands of false cases, stating that 90% of these cases have no basis. Despite his statements, the indiscriminate filing of false cases and the extrajudicial detention and imprisonment of Awami League activists continue.

Human rights activists claim that although the legal advisor has publicly assured good governance, the reality is starkly different. This situation has been likened to the kangaroo courts formed during the regime of autocrat Ziaur Rahman. The only difference now is that people are not being hanged by name; that is the extent of the difference.