Political Prisoners and Human Rights in Bangladesh

That the Parliament expresses grave concern at reports of political prisoners, arbitrary detention and denial of due process in Bangladesh; recognises the serious allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and repression under the former administration and believes that accountability for past abuses must be pursued through independent courts, fair trial standards and respect for the rule of law, not through collective punishment or political revenge; notes with concern that the Awami League was banned from contesting the 2026 elections; considers that the Bangladeshi Government must ensure due process for those detained by the interim administration, including alleged Awami League supporters; notes with alarm concerns that there are 124 arrested former Members of the Bangladesh Parliament, of whom 114 are reported as being in jail, eight on temporary bail and two as having died in custody; is deeply concerned that these figures suggest the prolonged detention of a significant number of senior political figures; notes reports of custodial deaths; further notes reports of denial of medical care, misuse of anti-terrorism and cyber-security laws, intimidation of lawyers, attacks on journalists and campaigners, mob violence and attacks on religious and ethnic minorities; condemns the detention of any person on the basis of peaceful political opinion, association, journalism, legal representation or criticism of government; believes that all detainees must have prompt access to legal representation, family contact, medical treatment, independent judicial review and a fair and public trial; calls on the Government of Bangladesh to release all those held for peaceful political activity or expression, to publish clear information on all political detainees, to investigate allegations of torture, custodial deaths and enforced disappearance, to protect the independence of the judiciary and legal profession and to ensure that security forces are subject to effective civilian oversight; further calls for the protection for religious and ethnic minorities, women, journalists, civil society and Rohingya refugees, and urges the UK Government, Commonwealth partners, the UN and international human rights bodies to raise these concerns with the Bangladeshi Government and to support democratic institutions, human rights, due process and the rule of law in Bangladesh.