Dhaka – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Bangladesh to end the prolonged pretrial detention of political leaders and others associated with the former Awami League government and to independently investigate deaths in custody.
In a statement issued Monday, the international rights organisation said thousands of Awami League leaders, activists and supporters were detained following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. Hundreds of them are still in detention without having been formally charged with any offence, HRW said.
Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, urged the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to end prolonged and “arbitrary” detention and undertake reforms to ensure due process.
“Political opponents should not be held for prolonged periods without evidence or due process,” Pearson said, according to the statement.
HRW highlighted the prolonged detention and deteriorating health of several senior political figures. It alleged that some detainees, including former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, were repeatedly arrested in new cases even after obtaining bail.
The organisation also said that more than 160 people detained in connection with proceedings before the International Crimes Tribunal had not been granted bail. Among them, former prime minister’s adviser Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and former lawmaker Kamal Ahmed Majumder have reportedly spent 22 months in custody.
HRW also expressed concern over inadequate medical care in prisons, citing the deaths in custody of Ramesh Chandra Sen and SM Ziaul Haque Zia. It called for independent investigations into all deaths in custody.
According to HRW, international human rights law requires pretrial detention to be used only as an exceptional measure. It said detainees should have access to bail, liberty, the presumption of innocence and a prompt trial, while the legality and necessity of detention should be subject to judicial review where appropriate.
Pearson said the deaths of elderly detainees in prison before charges were brought were inconsistent with the principle that pretrial detention should remain exceptional.
“The government should independently investigate deaths in custody and end prolonged detention without charge,” she said.
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