Bangladesh's new regime, old tactics? HRW slams crackdown on Hasina's party

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has sharply criticised Bangladesh’s interim government for suppressing fundamental freedoms and targeting supporters of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While the government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus had promised a democratic reset, rights advocates now accuse it of replicating the same abuses it vowed to end.

“Instead of pursuing its pledge to reform the criminal justice system and bring accountability for serious abuses, the government is attempting to suppress the rights of supporters of the Awami League,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The rebuke comes in response to a sweeping "temporary" ban imposed on the Awami League on May 12, under a controversial amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act. The order restricts all forms of expression supporting the party — ranging from social media posts to public gatherings and even media publications.

Human Rights Watch called the move draconian and warned that silencing the very party that led Bangladesh to independence sets a dangerous precedent. "Sheikh Hasina’s government abused legal powers to silence political opponents, but using similar methods against her supporters would also violate those same fundamental freedoms," Ganguly said.

The crackdown follows weeks of unrest that culminated in Hasina’s ouster on August 5, 2024, after protests reportedly left around 1,400 people dead.

According to Human Rights Watch, the interim administration has also introduced flawed legislation on enforced disappearances—an issue that plagued Hasina’s 15-year rule. "The draft legislation... does little to advance justice or provide answers for the hundreds of victims and families affected by disappearances under Hasina’s rule," said Ganguly.

The proposed law excludes cases deemed "widespread" or "systematic" and sidelines the commission of enquiry established in August to investigate such crimes. Rights groups say this weakens accountability and pushes justice further out of reach.

The ban on the Awami League is expected to remain until party leaders face trial for abuses during their rule—a process that could take years. In the meantime, the Election Commission has stripped the party of its registration, further narrowing democratic space.

"There is widespread anger against the Awami League for the many abuses committed during Hasina’s rule," Ganguly acknowledged. "But stripping supporters of opposition parties of their rights isn't a way forward."

With inputs from ANI