London, June 10, 2025:
Four prominent international organizations have urged UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to refrain from establishing any diplomatic ties with Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, citing severe democratic backsliding and widespread human rights violations.
In a joint letter sent to Prime Minister Starmer, the European Bangladesh Forum (EBF), South Asia Democratic Forum (Belgium), Working Group Bangladesh (Germany), and Earth Civilization Network (Turkey) alleged that the current interim administration has abandoned democratic values and is responsible for systemic abuses.
The letter states that since the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, Bangladesh has witnessed a sharp deterioration in democratic practices and human rights under Dr. Yunus’s leadership. The organizations accused the government of forging alliances with extremist groups and appointing senior leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami to key positions. Additionally, the government-backed National Citizen Party (NCP) has been acting as a tool for authoritarian control.
A detailed report attached to the letter highlights alarming figures from the past ten months:
• 359,798 arrests, including peaceful activists
• 356 cases of harassment against journalists
• 140 fabricated murder cases
• 167 press accreditations revoked
• Over 1,500 murals and sculptures destroyed—actions compared to those of Taliban and ISIL.
The interim government, the letter claims, is attempting to erase Bangladesh’s liberation legacy. It cites actions such as revoking Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s “Father of the Nation” title, demolishing his residence at Dhanmondi 32 and related memorials, and imprisoning veteran freedom fighters. Furthermore, the ban on the Awami League on May 12, 2025—one of the central forces in Bangladesh’s independence movement—is condemned. The letter also criticizes the release of ATM Azharul Islam, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader previously convicted of war crimes.
The organizations expressed concern over the persecution of prominent human rights defenders like Shahriar Kabir and Barrister Turin Afroz, both reportedly jailed on false charges. Attacks on Hindu, Christian, Ahmadiyya, and indigenous communities have also increased, fueled by rising Islamist extremism and political instability.
The letter warns that any diplomatic engagement with Dr. Yunus would confer legitimacy on a regime violating human rights and democratic norms. It notes that French President Emmanuel Macron has already refused to meet with the interim government and that UK’s Doughty Street Chambers is pursuing a case against Dr. Yunus at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.
The signatories urged the UK to stand with the Bangladeshi people in their struggle to restore democracy. Protests have been announced outside Chatham House and the UK Parliament during Dr. Yunus’s London visit (June 10-13).
The letter has sparked significant international debate on Bangladesh’s deepening crisis and the role of the global community.
Signatories of the letter include:
• Chris Blackburn, Communications Director, EBF, UK (chris.blackburn25@btopenworld.com)
• Paulo Casaca, Executive Director, South Asia Democratic Forum, Brussels (paulo@sadf.eu)
• Klaus Strempel, Working Group Bangladesh in Lower Saxony, Germany (arbeitskreis-bangladesch@gmx.de)
• Tariq Günersel, Poet, Playwright, and Coordinator, Earth Civilization Network, Turkey (tgunersel@gmail.com)
