In the past 13 months, at least 44,472 people accused of links to the Awami League have been arrested by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The figure was reported by Prothom Alo, a leading Bangladeshi daily known as a close ally and strong supporter of the Yunus administration, which seized power with backing from the military and Islamist groups.
The justification offered for these mass arrests is that the detainees were “involved with fascism.” Awami League leaders, however, counter that it is Yunus’s own government that is fascist—silencing dissent and targeting both Awami League supporters and religious and ethnic minorities.
Bail Rights Under Fire
According to Prothom Alo’s police-sourced report, more than 32,000 of those detained without trial have been granted bail. Instead of acknowledging this as a basic right, the newspaper questioned how Awami League members were able to secure release and even published statements from government officials and pro-government rights activists suggesting measures to block bail. The voices of the detainees or the Awami League were entirely absent from the coverage.
The interim government has already banned the media from publishing Awami League statements, permitting only criticism of the party. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has repeatedly warned that any outlet publishing Awami League statements will face severe action. Awami League’s political activities have also been outlawed.
Awami League’s Response
Awami League Joint General Secretary A. F. M. Bahauddin Nasim rejected the reported figures, telling The Voice on Sunday that political vengeance is driving the mass detentions.
“Leaders, workers, and supporters of the Awami League have been arrested en masse for political reasons,” Nasim said. “Police are unable to reveal the true data; the real number is far higher.”
He alleged that those arrested were falsely shown as accused in “imaginary cases.” According to him, courts are being blocked from granting bail: “Bail is a citizen’s right, and it is for the courts to decide. But Yunus’s illegal government is openly pressuring the judiciary, preventing it from working independently.”
Nasim further noted that the government has formed a special committee—including officials from the Home and Law Ministries—to obstruct bail. “The responsibilities of the judiciary are being usurped by the executive branch,” he said.
Concerns Over Bail
Prothom Alo itself reported that the Home Ministry established a four-member committee on September 14, led by a Joint Secretary, with representatives from the Law Ministry, the Attorney General’s office, and the police. Its mandate is to investigate how detainees in anti-terrorism cases are securing bail so quickly.
Police data shows that between August 5 last year and September 3 this year, nearly 73 percent of detainees received bail. Authorities claim many were tied to the anti-discrimination student movement or involved in rallies and anti-government activities after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster.
In Dhaka alone, the Metropolitan Police reported 97 cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act against Awami League and affiliated organizations—including the banned Chhatra League—since October 23 last year. A total of 1,123 arrests were made, of which 403 have already been granted bail.
The Home Ministry has also expressed concern over recurring “flash processions.” On September 24, police arrested 244 people during such a protest in Dhaka. Officials warn of possible unrest in the capital in the coming weeks.
Privately, senior officials admit that field-level police often fail to present adequate evidence in court, leading to bail. There are also allegations that innocent people were detained and falsely labeled as “fascist associates.”
Police spokesperson A. H. M. Shahadat Hossain told Prothom Alo: “Police are working with utmost sincerity. Bail is entirely the jurisdiction of the courts. Minor mistakes may occur in presenting evidence, but there is no major deviation. Senior officials supervise closely.”
Pro-Government Voices Dominate
Despite focusing largely on government perspectives, Prothom Alo also acknowledged that lawyers and rights activists could not deny bail as a fundamental right until trial. They argued instead that the only way to stop bail is through “properly filed cases and thorough investigations.”
The newspaper noted that bail applications from most senior Awami League leaders are being rejected, particularly in murder cases, even though proving their involvement is difficult.
Dhaka’s Chief Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi told the paper that most detainees were arrested as suspects, not directly from Awami League rallies. He admitted that police often forward cases to court in a haphazard way, and because of insufficient information, many detainees secure bail within two or three months.
The report also featured the views of rights activist Nur Khan Liton, known for his close ties to the Yunus administration and his role in several government committees. Liton admitted that “many ordinary people were harassingly arrested” after August 5 last year. He added: “Naturally, they will get bail. Every human being has the right to a fair trial. If a judge deems bail appropriate under the law, there is no scope to block it.”
