Dhaka, May 10, 2026 — International human rights organisation Amnesty International has alleged that Bangladesh’s interim government imposed unnecessary restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly throughout 2025.
In its annual report titled “The State of the World’s Human Rights”, Amnesty said journalists, human rights defenders, bloggers, poets, and activists faced harassment, violence, and arbitrary arrests for exercising their right to free expression.
The report questioned the interim administration’s commitment to democratic freedoms, particularly after the ban on the Bangladesh Awami League. The interim government came to power in August 2024 following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A BNP-led government later assumed office after the February 2025 elections.
Amnesty noted that the controversial Cyber Security Act of 2023 continued to be used under the interim administration to suppress dissent before being replaced by the Cyber Security Ordinance in May 2025.
The rights body also highlighted attacks on media organisations and cultural institutions following violent protests on December 18 after the killing of July uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo were reportedly vandalised and set on fire, while the editor of New Age and members of cultural organisation Chhayanaut faced harassment.
The report further criticised ongoing restrictions on labour unions, citing excessive registration requirements and state interference in union activities.
On enforced disappearances, Amnesty acknowledged steps taken by the interim government, including signing the International Convention Against Enforced Disappearance and drafting a related ordinance. However, it said early versions of the law failed to meet international human rights standards.
According to Bangladesh’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, 1,837 complaints were received, with 67 percent allegedly linked to state agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion.
The report also referenced findings by the United Nations, which stated there were reasonable grounds to believe that serious human rights violations had been systematically committed by the former government and associated security forces.
Amnesty additionally noted that reductions in USAID funding had severely impacted Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh.
