The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), representing over one million lawyers across 46 countries, has strongly condemned the recent arrest and public humiliation of six senior members of the Comilla Bar Association in Bangladesh, calling the incident a blatant violation of international legal standards.
In an official letter addressed to Bangladesh’s Interim Government Chief Adviser, CCBE President Thierry Wickers expressed grave concern over what he described as “the politically motivated persecution of legal professionals.” He demanded the immediate release of the detained lawyers and the withdrawal of charges that appear to lack legal merit.
The six lawyers—among them former bar association presidents and general secretaries—were arrested on April 21 in connection with an alleged incident linked to the August 2024 anti-discrimination student movement. The case, filed unusually late by a student activist affiliated with a political group, accuses the lawyers of conspiracy and inciting violence. However, legal experts have questioned the credibility of the evidence and the timing of the charges.
Eyewitnesses reported disturbing scenes during the lawyers’ transfer to judicial custody. They were subjected to public humiliation, including being pelted with eggs and physically jostled by political activists—reportedly from the BNP-Jamaat and Nationalist Citizens’ Platform (NCP). Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media, drawing outrage from human rights defenders and legal communities both domestically and abroad. Notably, security personnel present during the attack allegedly failed to intervene.
The CCBE invoked the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which obligate governments to protect lawyers from threats, harassment, and improper interference in the performance of their duties. “Lawyers must be allowed to practice their profession freely and independently, without fear of reprisal,” said Wickers. “The failure to uphold these principles undermines the very foundation of the rule of law.”
The Bangladesh Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association have also condemned the arrests, describing them as “an assault on judicial independence and due process.” Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called for an impartial investigation and for the protection of legal professionals in politically sensitive cases.
Sources within the legal community suggest that the arrests are part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent ahead of the expected general elections later this year. The interim government, led by technocrats and former bureaucrats, has faced increasing criticism for its alleged use of state machinery to target opposition voices.
As of now, the detained lawyers remain in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for next week. Legal observers warn that the case could set a dangerous precedent for political interference in the judiciary, further eroding public trust in Bangladesh’s legal system.
